Jessie Edwards-Thomas is a visual artist based in Britain. She originates from Snowdonia, North Wales. Her artistic practise explores the idea of the individual and the individual's placement within society. Themes of belonging, alienation and structural interrogation are key to her practice. Her practice utilises the what-ifs of fiction and imagination to explore said themes of power, symbols, societal structures and connection through storytelling.
Jessie's practice is deeply connected to ideas of community. Recently, Jessie was commissioned by The Bristol Photo festival, Arnolfini & Golden Key to work collaboratively with people to explore issues of Housing & Wellbeing in Bristol. This was exhibited at The Arnolfini, Bristol, in 2021.
Jessie's community-led process has resulted in her working with programmes such as, Springboard Studios - Falmouth University, Vareki Arts Outreach programme - Royal West of England Academy and Building our Home - InBetweenTime, etc.
Jessie is a Lecturer at the University of the West of England in Bristol. She is currently Research Assistant for the EU Erasmus project ArtsHub, supporting the inclusion of migrating young people into communities across Europe.
Contact
jessie.ed.photography@gmail.com
Awards & Commissions
2022 - Vareki, Commission, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2021 - Shortlisted for Golden Key Great Practice Award for collaborative practice
2021 - Blueprint: Housing and Wellbeing, Commission, Arnolfini, & The Bristol Photofestival, Bristol
2020 - Exceptional Support Beyond Teaching Award nomination, Students Union, UOG
2020 - Most inspiring Lecturer Award nomination, Students Union, UOG
2019 - Building our Homes, Commission, InbetweenTime, Bristol
2019 - The Biscuit Factory's Open Contemporary Young Artist Award
2019 - Shortlisted for The ESPY Photo Award
2018 - The Sproxton Award for Photography
2018 - Highly commended for The Photofusion Award
2016 - The Slim Hewitt Award for Photography
2014 - Shortlisted for The British Life Photography Awards
Exhibitions
2021 - Bristol Photo Festival , The Arnolfini, Bristol
2021 - Odesa Photo Days Festival, Ukraine
2020 - Covid_2020, 212 Productions, Bristol
2019 - Mostyn Open 21, MOSTYN Museum, Llandudno, Wales
2019 - Carnival POP-UP exhibition and workshop, Martin Parr Foundation Photo Lab, Arnolfini, Bristol
2019 - Uprooted, Group exhibition, ArtHub, London
2019 - ESPY Photo Award exhibition, Elysium Gallery, Swansea
2019 - Dancing in Peckham, Peckham24, London
2019 - The Biscuit Factory's Contemporary Young artist award exhibition, The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
2018 - UMBRA, University of Arts, London
2018 - Flux, The Freespace Project, London
2017 - Monochrome, Limehouse, London
2016 - Trajectory Graduate Online Exhibition, The Print Space
2016 - 306 Degrees, The Roses Art Centre, Tewkesbury
2016 - Review, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham
2016 - Reconnecting Bristol, St Marks Centre, Bristol
2016 - Body & Vibes, Typical Girls Magazine Exhibition, London
2016 - Terra Nostra, The Gardens Gallery, Cheltenham
2015 - Etalage, AWOL Gallery, Manchester
2015 - Bath Arts Biennial Festival, Bath
2014 - 38 Degrees, The Bearpit, Bristol
2014 - Foto39, Christmas Steps Gallery, Bristol
2009 - London Royal Academy Young Artists Summer Show, London
Publications
2021 - What is Wellbeing? - Arnolfini Arts & UWE, Vox Pop
2019 - The Polymorph - Photography and Culture Academic Journal
2019 - Artist Feature - Revolv
2019 - Flux Exhibition Feature - The Dots
2019 - Flux Exhibition Feature - Something Curated
2017 - Wendy - Noctis Mag
2017- - Wendy - TRIP Magazine
2016 - Jennifer - Typical Girls Magazine
2016 - Jennifer - Sister Magazine
2016 - Artist Feature - Dazed Magazine
2016 - Guardian Online
2016 - BBC News online
2016 - Daily Mail
2016 - Broadly for Vice
2016 - Broadly for Vice
2015 - Darkus Magazine
2014 - British Medical Journal Magazine
Education
2018 - MA Photography, Distinction - University of the Arts, London
2016 - BA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography, First Class Honours - University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham