Zara Worth (b. 1990 North Yorkshire, UK) is an artist, writer and doctoral researcher interested in online communities and contemporary moral value systems.
Exploring the behaviours and cultures associated with hand-held technology and social media, Worth’s practice spans object-making, gilding, drawing, performance to video and digital collage. In 2017, curator Tyler Robarge described Worth's practice as ‘swipe-specific’, in response to her frequent use of social media as a medium as well as a subject.
Motifs, language and gestures from social media content and orthodox Christian iconography are cited in Worth's works; drawing unexpected connections between the two in order to revise assessment of the former’s cultural significance. Often playing linguistic games; punning and employing homonyms, Worth's works disorient the signified and the symbolic to reflect on meaning making, belief and value systems and how we express identity in post-religious cultures.
Recently, Worth has been gilding imagery derived from social media onto diaphanous materials to create shroud like paintings and sculptures which connect the spiritual and the everyday; the sacred and the profane.
Exploring the behaviours and cultures associated with hand-held technology and social media, Worth’s practice spans object-making, gilding, drawing, performance to video and digital collage. In 2017, curator Tyler Robarge described Worth's practice as ‘swipe-specific’, in response to her frequent use of social media as a medium as well as a subject.
Motifs, language and gestures from social media content and orthodox Christian iconography are cited in Worth's works; drawing unexpected connections between the two in order to revise assessment of the former’s cultural significance. Often playing linguistic games; punning and employing homonyms, Worth's works disorient the signified and the symbolic to reflect on meaning making, belief and value systems and how we express identity in post-religious cultures.
Recently, Worth has been gilding imagery derived from social media onto diaphanous materials to create shroud like paintings and sculptures which connect the spiritual and the everyday; the sacred and the profane.
EDUCATION
Doctoral Candidate in Fine Art (Practice-led), Leeds Beckett University, 2016 - present
MA Contemporary Art Theory (Distinction), Goldsmiths, 2014-2015
BA(Hons) Fine Art (First Class Honours), Northumbria University, 2010-2013
MA Contemporary Art Theory (Distinction), Goldsmiths, 2014-2015
BA(Hons) Fine Art (First Class Honours), Northumbria University, 2010-2013
EXHIBITIONS
2020
.Dot.Dot-Dash, Surface Gallery, Nottingham, UK
CRAFT, Thought Foundation, Gateshead, UK
2019
Presence, The Newbridge Project, Gateshead, UK
Create: Sculpt: Play, Victoria Gardens, Leeds, UK
Cognitive Conversations, FACT, Liverpool
'Cognitive Sensations' The X-Gallery, LJMU, Liverpool, UK
2018
Cognitive Sensations: Fields of Perception, THE CUBE, London
Instagram Expo, Atelier, Montreal, CA
FEED, Vane, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (solo show)
AVBody, Judaica Project at the University of Huddersfield, UK
'Smile (for Harold)' in MATERIAL ENVIRONMENTS for Harold Offeh, The Tetley, Leeds, UK
‘a-n Gallery Tally’ in ‘Gallery Tally’ at 'Fair', Art Fair, Miami, US
Four Words, Leeds Tech Hub, Leeds, UK - opening 23 November 2017
2017
Gallery Tally, in, Starless Midnight, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, UK
Zara Worth and Swipe-Specific Art, Omni-Modern, Texas, US
#HADADi, Campus North, Newcastle upon Tyne
Dialogus, Vane, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Summer Screening, H Space, Cleveland, Ohio, US
InAbstract, The University of Huddersfield
Roots and Wings, The House of Blah Blah, Middlesborough
'inhabit', IOUAE, Online Residency
2016
Tender Bodies Praxis, Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
2015
Transmetic Ordonnance, Lewisham Art House, London, UK
2014
Draw In, St Margaret's House, Edinburgh, UK
Eulogy, Vane, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK [Curator and artist]
I Am What I Eat, [Festival of art and food] The Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
2013
Initiate//Participate, Gallery North Project Space, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK [Curator and artist]
The Summer Salon, Haltwhistle Art Stop, Northumberland, UK
CACHE, ARC, Stockton upon Tees, UK
The Woon Art Prize, Gallery North, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (Shortlisted Artist)
Free range, The Old Truman Brewery, London, UK
Act Without Expectation, The Stand, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
2012
Whitebread, Empty Shop, Durham, UK
One Thing After Another, Hoult's Yard, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
The DepARTure Foundation Student Art Prize, Sunderland, UK (Shortlisted Artist)
Dysmorphophobia, The Newbridge Project Annexe, Newcastle upon Tyne
2011
While the Ink is Wet, According to McGee, York
2010
The Harrogate Open, The Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate
.Dot.Dot-Dash, Surface Gallery, Nottingham, UK
CRAFT, Thought Foundation, Gateshead, UK
2019
Presence, The Newbridge Project, Gateshead, UK
Create: Sculpt: Play, Victoria Gardens, Leeds, UK
Cognitive Conversations, FACT, Liverpool
'Cognitive Sensations' The X-Gallery, LJMU, Liverpool, UK
2018
Cognitive Sensations: Fields of Perception, THE CUBE, London
Instagram Expo, Atelier, Montreal, CA
FEED, Vane, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (solo show)
AVBody, Judaica Project at the University of Huddersfield, UK
'Smile (for Harold)' in MATERIAL ENVIRONMENTS for Harold Offeh, The Tetley, Leeds, UK
‘a-n Gallery Tally’ in ‘Gallery Tally’ at 'Fair', Art Fair, Miami, US
Four Words, Leeds Tech Hub, Leeds, UK - opening 23 November 2017
2017
Gallery Tally, in, Starless Midnight, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, UK
Zara Worth and Swipe-Specific Art, Omni-Modern, Texas, US
#HADADi, Campus North, Newcastle upon Tyne
Dialogus, Vane, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Summer Screening, H Space, Cleveland, Ohio, US
InAbstract, The University of Huddersfield
Roots and Wings, The House of Blah Blah, Middlesborough
'inhabit', IOUAE, Online Residency
2016
Tender Bodies Praxis, Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
2015
Transmetic Ordonnance, Lewisham Art House, London, UK
2014
Draw In, St Margaret's House, Edinburgh, UK
Eulogy, Vane, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK [Curator and artist]
I Am What I Eat, [Festival of art and food] The Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
2013
Initiate//Participate, Gallery North Project Space, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK [Curator and artist]
The Summer Salon, Haltwhistle Art Stop, Northumberland, UK
CACHE, ARC, Stockton upon Tees, UK
The Woon Art Prize, Gallery North, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (Shortlisted Artist)
Free range, The Old Truman Brewery, London, UK
Act Without Expectation, The Stand, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
2012
Whitebread, Empty Shop, Durham, UK
One Thing After Another, Hoult's Yard, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
The DepARTure Foundation Student Art Prize, Sunderland, UK (Shortlisted Artist)
Dysmorphophobia, The Newbridge Project Annexe, Newcastle upon Tyne
2011
While the Ink is Wet, According to McGee, York
2010
The Harrogate Open, The Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate
AWARDS
2019 Research and Development Grant, The Newbridge Project
2018 Grants for the Arts, Arts Council England
2017 Helix Arts #HADADi Bursary
2016 Leeds Beckett Doctoral Studentship
2014 Goldsmiths Postgraduate Scholarship
2014 YLCE Bursary
2013 The Woon Art Prize, Gallery North, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (Shortlisted Artist)
2012 The DepARTure Foundation Student Art Prize, Sunderland, UK (Shortlisted Artist)
2010 The Harrogate Open, The Mercer Art Gallery, (Highly Commended Prize)
2018 Grants for the Arts, Arts Council England
2017 Helix Arts #HADADi Bursary
2016 Leeds Beckett Doctoral Studentship
2014 Goldsmiths Postgraduate Scholarship
2014 YLCE Bursary
2013 The Woon Art Prize, Gallery North, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (Shortlisted Artist)
2012 The DepARTure Foundation Student Art Prize, Sunderland, UK (Shortlisted Artist)
2010 The Harrogate Open, The Mercer Art Gallery, (Highly Commended Prize)
RESIDENCIES & OTHER PROJECTS
2019
YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE INTERNATIONAL Engagement Artist
Artist in Residence, Whickham Sixth Form, Gateshead
2017
Painting: Atoms and Speech Bubbles, Panel Chair, ICA London, 23 May
IOUAE Online Residency (15 May 2017 - 21 May 2017)
YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE INTERNATIONAL Engagement Artist
Artist in Residence, Whickham Sixth Form, Gateshead
2017
Painting: Atoms and Speech Bubbles, Panel Chair, ICA London, 23 May
IOUAE Online Residency (15 May 2017 - 21 May 2017)