Zara Worth (b. 1990 North Yorkshire, UK) is an artist, writer and doctoral researcher. Concerned with our relationships with hand-held technology and social media, Worth’s practice has been described by curator Tyler Robarge as ‘swipe-specific’: using online culture and technology as subject and medium for artworks with on- and offline lives. Many of Worth’s works using new media are hard to entirely detach from their IRL counterparts which might comprise of drawings, objects and live performances. Works referencing the legacy of performance and conceptual art explore belief systems, meaning-making and identity, subject to the neoliberal condition and the age of Web2.0. Instagram offers both a subject and medium; its cultures and economies, such as the Instagram originating ‘clean-eating’ trend and associated hashtags, provide a lens through which to explore contemporary forms of faith, following, and pathways to self-actualisation.
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
TALKS, LECTURES AND PAPERS
2019
'Truth, time and authenticity on Instagram', Cognitive Sensations, Available at: https://cognitivesensations.com/post/184084366791/truth-time-and-authenticity-on-instagram-an
'The Collective Studio: Works in Progress', The Newbridge Project, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
'Cognitive Conversations', FACT, Liverpool [Panel discussion and exhibition]
2018
'Shared Meals: Instagram as a space for virtual feasting and rites of incorporation', Feast Journal, ISSN: 2397-785X
2017
'A drawing made by cutting up my body weight in celery', Lungs Magazine, 2017
'Wellness' and 'Appendix I: An Evasive Endnote', Journal of Writing in Creative Practice, Volume 9 Issue 3
'Roots and Wings' Artist Talk, The House of Blah, Blah, Middlesborough, UK (24 August 2017)
'Painting: Atoms and Speech Bubbles', chairing a panel discussion between Jeffrey Dennis, Kimathi Donkor and Fay Nicholson at The ICA, London (23 May 2017)
'The Artist Presents: Hybrid practice for the 'always-on' generation. How might Instagram be used as a site for art?', presented at InAbstract, Huddersfield University (11 April 2017)
'Truth, time and authenticity on Instagram', Cognitive Sensations, Available at: https://cognitivesensations.com/post/184084366791/truth-time-and-authenticity-on-instagram-an
'The Collective Studio: Works in Progress', The Newbridge Project, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
'Cognitive Conversations', FACT, Liverpool [Panel discussion and exhibition]
2018
'Shared Meals: Instagram as a space for virtual feasting and rites of incorporation', Feast Journal, ISSN: 2397-785X
2017
'A drawing made by cutting up my body weight in celery', Lungs Magazine, 2017
'Wellness' and 'Appendix I: An Evasive Endnote', Journal of Writing in Creative Practice, Volume 9 Issue 3
'Roots and Wings' Artist Talk, The House of Blah, Blah, Middlesborough, UK (24 August 2017)
'Painting: Atoms and Speech Bubbles', chairing a panel discussion between Jeffrey Dennis, Kimathi Donkor and Fay Nicholson at The ICA, London (23 May 2017)
'The Artist Presents: Hybrid practice for the 'always-on' generation. How might Instagram be used as a site for art?', presented at InAbstract, Huddersfield University (11 April 2017)
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2019
Cognitive Conversations, FACT, Liverpool
'Cognitive Sensations' The X-Gallery, LJMU, Liverpool, UK
2018
Cognitive Sensations: Fields of Perception, THE CUBE, London (opening 20th November 2018)
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 [online]
#HADADi, Campus North, Newcastle upon Tyne
Dialogus, Vane, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Summer Screening, H Space, Cleveland, Ohio, US, - Opening 29 July 2017
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
Cognitive Conversations, FACT, Liverpool
'Cognitive Sensations' The X-Gallery, LJMU, Liverpool, UK
2018
Cognitive Sensations: Fields of Perception, THE CUBE, London (opening 20th November 2018)
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 [online]
#HADADi, Campus North, Newcastle upon Tyne
Dialogus, Vane, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Summer Screening, H Space, Cleveland, Ohio, US, - Opening 29 July 2017
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, ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS
2019
YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE INTERNATIONAL Engagement Artist
Artist in Residence, Whickham Sixth Form, Gateshead
STILL LIFE, STILL MIND Drawing workshop for Gateshead Council
2018
DisCONTENTed Collage Workshops for Vane Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne; and The Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
2017
IOUAE Online Residency (15 May 2017 - 21 May 2017)
YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE INTERNATIONAL Engagement Artist
Artist in Residence, Whickham Sixth Form, Gateshead
STILL LIFE, STILL MIND Drawing workshop for Gateshead Council
2018
DisCONTENTed Collage Workshops for Vane Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne; and The Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
2017
IOUAE Online Residency (15 May 2017 - 21 May 2017)