about
Hidden Objects, Oxford is a developing curatorial research project, founded in 2017, and supported by an informal group of independent and University curators and researchers based here in Oxford with an interest in contemporary art and design.
We are building links with several Oxford colleges to explore their collections and to develop, with them, activities and events that focus on works in the collection that are perhaps less well known or have become less visible within the contemporary life of the college.
The project group works to create diverse events , which adopt differing formats, tailored for distinct, invited audiences – both within and beyond the University – but with the common aim of animating and sharing all the different forms of knowledge embedded in Oxford college collections.
An additional aim is to build on and support the tradition, active in some colleges, of commissioning/acquiring contemporary work and to develop active networks of informed supporters for all the above.
We are delighted to have an active partnership with the University’s micro-internship programme and TORCH the Oxford University Research Centre for the Humanities. This ensures that our work actively supports student interest in College collections within the wider context of contemporary art and design.
You can read some research reflections of previous micro interns here.
You can read more about some of our recent activity here and how you can get in touch to hear more about and support future activity.
We are:
Lauren Dyer Amazeen
American born contemporary art curator, formerly Director of the groundbreaking multidisciplinary arts space, The Kitchen, New York; former Chair of CCA Glasgow, currently Chair of Cove Park artist residency centre, Scotland. Lauren has lectured widely on contemporary visual art practice, is an independent arts writer, critic and visiting lecturer at MLitt Art Writing programme Glasgow School of Art and external PhD supervisor at Edinburgh College of Art. She divides her time between Scotland and Oxford.
James Fordham
Director of Oxford Ceramics Gallery in Walton Street and an important scholar and dealer in twentieth century and contemporary studio ceramics. Oxford Ceramics Gallery is winning increasing acclaim for its innovative programme. James has worked closely with the Ashmolean Museum Education team as part of the Clay Live project for a number of years and is an active advisor on studio ceramics to private, public and several College collections.
Amanda Game
Independent Curator and Producer in the field of modern craft, formerly Director of the Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh; Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and Trustee of the National Life Stories programme at the British Library. She brings extensive experience of creating exhibitions and events for both public and private spaces including installations at the V & A Museum; National Museums Scotland and Jerwood Space, London.
She is the lead researcher on our Silver Futures project.
Matthew Winterbottom
Curator of Sculpture and Decorative Arts at the Ashmolean Museum. Matthew’s research interests cover a wide range of European decorative arts from the late medieval to the early 20th centuries. He has extensive knowledge of metalwork, furniture, ceramics, glass, textiles and sculpture. He is also committed to exploring ways of making this material more engaging and accessible to museum visitors. He is always keen to explore the social history surrounding objects – how they were made, used, displayed and their changing uses and status over time. He was lead curator for the f ‘No Offence’ exhibition at the Ashmolean that explored LGBT+ histories and themes of objects from the British Museum and from across the Oxford University Museums collections and is Lead Curator for the forthcoming 2023 Ashmolean exhibition COLOUR REVOLUTION: VICTORIAN ART, FASHION & DESIGN.
We are very grateful to the work of our Founding Advisor, Dr. Oliver Cox, now Head of Academic Partnerships at the V& A Museum, London, formerly Heritage Engagement Fellow at the University of Oxford. His time, and knowledge of University collections, helped establish a fruitful research pathway for Hidden Objects Oxford. We continue to work with several of his colleagues on the TORCH heritage programme, which co-ordinates, supports and brokers collaborative research and engagement projects between the University of Oxford and external partners in the UK and international heritage sector.
News
Featured
EVENTS
We hope you enjoy some pictures of the Piper chapel during our event with the Alumni Office last September. We are planning another series of expert talks on tapestry this autumn. Don’t forget to sign up below to keep up to date with our news.
Although our physical research into college collections is currently on hold, the Hidden Objects team has had a busy few months developing a new project around modern silver with three Oxford colleges which aims to connect the knowledge of the historian and the skills of the modern designer. More news on this soon.
If you wish to keep up to date with our events and activities, please complete the form below.
Micro Interns
Explore the work of the Hidden Objects micro-internship, in partnership with the TORCH Heritage Partnerships Team and the University of Oxford Careers Service.
John Piper tapestry, Wolfson College
Photo: courtesy of Wolfson College
Research: Taylor Library Artists Books collection, housed at Sackler Library
Research: Artists Books collection, Weston Library
Research: Book printing process at Bodleian Printing Workshop
Research: Collection of Inuit artworks, Lady Margaret Hall
Fishing Camp, 1970. Stonecut and stencil by Luke Anguhadluq
Photo: Antonia Jameson
John Piper: Artist In Stained Glass
Lauren Dyer Amazeen
With a special thank you to Katerina Vavaliou, TORCH Heritage Programme Support Officer.
Support
As an independent organisation we will be actively seeking further resources to support some of the documentation and dissemination of knowledge accrued through the events and to develop new contemporary commissions.
If you would like to discuss how you might support us in the future, please get in touch with:
Contact
If you wish to get in touch with Hidden Objects Oxford, please complete the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Hidden Objects, Oxford is delighted to announce the launch of a new project Silver Futures heralded by two new silver commissions for St John’s College, Oxford. Silver Futures is designed to reflect contemporary responses to the historic process of melt and re-use of damaged silver in Oxford college collections.