Research theme: Painting Manchester
Understanding the city of Manchester through the lens of contemporary art, and conducting world-leading research on painting and painting techniques.
About our research
About our research
In the Painting Manchester group, we bring together world-leading research in contemporary painting. Our activities at Manchester Met and in the wider city contribute significantly to international debates and developments in discourse in the medium.
We formed the group in 2018 and its members are senior academics within Manchester School of Art. We employ a range of methodologies and our outputs include publications, conferences and symposia.
We are interested in hearing from potential PhD candidates with proposals in the areas we cover.
Painting Manchester symposia
Our Painting Manchester events bring together leading international figures from the art world and academia to critically explore prescient ideas. Symposium topics include:
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Is Painting Research? in 2022
Teaching Painting
Painting Manchester works with its sister group Teaching Painting, which was formed in 2015 to explore histories and recent developments of pedagogy in painting within higher arts education. The group has:
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held conferences at the Whitworth in Manchester and the Royal Academy of Arts in London
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edited two books on the subject
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curated a series of exhibitions that have explored the intergenerational influence of art school teaching
Selected projects
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Key Exhibitions
- Eden, J et al (2021) Love Thy Neighbour: Asia Triennial Manchester, Manchester Poetry Library, Manchester
- Eden, J (2021) Painting, Psychology and Simultaneity United Kingdom of Painting: Painters Talking Painting (as part of Teaching Painting) hosted by Freelands Foundation, London
- Eden, J et al (2021) Fully Awake 03: The United Kingdom of Painting panel discussion hosted by Freelands Foundation
- Eden, J (2021) Oxlade Soup (After Roy) Terrace Gallery, London
- Eden, J (2021) SHIFT: Freelands Foundation film
- Hunt, A, Kurz, VL (2018) C .R. McBerny Part One, Zwinglistrasse 4 (ground floor right), 10555 Berlin, Germany
- Hartshorne, I (2017-2021) Fully Awake Manchester School of Art (Holden Gallery), Freelands Foundation, London, Edinburgh College of Art (Sculpture Court Gallery), Royal College of Art (Dyson Gallery), House for an Art Lover, Glasgow and Blip Blip Blip, Leeds
- Hunt, A, (2017) Abel Auer: How a Black Void Replaces the White Cube and a Painting Moves from the Fine to the Performing Arts Reading International
- Hunt, A (2017) Matt Copson and Alastair MacKinven: Eggy and Seedy, Reading International
- Hunt, A (2016) Polly Apfelbaum: Any Dream Will Do, As You Change, So Do I Luton Culture
- Hunt, A, Vasey, G (2015) Jeffrey Dennis: Ringbinder Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
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Key publications
- Hunt, A, Sillman, A, Gordon, M, Fionna, B, Garnett, R, Quaife, M (2020) Painting: Funny Peculiar Slimvolume.
- Hartshorne, I, Moloney, D and Quaife, M (2017) How can painting be taught in art schools? Black Dog Press Ltd
Organisations we work with
Whitworth Gallery
Royal Academy
Arts Council England
Contact us
Contact us
For general enquiries about our Painting Manchester research group, you can contact its leads Ian Hartshorne and Andrew Hunt.