James Bell

Background

About James Bell

I am an artist, educator, and researcher, with a background in education and production in artist-led and contemporary art organisations. My research focuses on histories of feminist and queer cultural activism in contemporary art practice, and the ways in which artworks mediate feminist and LGBTQIA+ archives. I hold a PhD from Northumbria University in Visual and Material Culture (2021); a BA (Hons) Time Based Art (2010) and an MFA from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee (2011). I have been a committee member of artist-led spaces Generator, Dundee (2011—12), and Rhubaba, Edinburgh (2013—15). I was the Producer (Learning) at Collective, Edinburgh (2013—17), researching, developing and delivering the contemporary art organisation’s learning programme; and served on the Board of Baltic Street Adventure Playground, Glasgow (2015—18). Since 2020, I have been a Visiting Lecturer on the joint MLitt Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art), at Glasgow School of Art and the University of Glasgow, previously undertaking a Course Coordination role (late-2021). I am currently a Teaching Fellow in Contemporary Art Theory and Practice at Edinburgh College of Art, the University of Edinburgh, where I teach across undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Visual Cultures.