Mair Hughes’ art practice is rooted in sculpture and installation, alongside which she explores the dynamics of staging objects for the camera. Her work deals with processes of translation and reconstruction, exploring the slippages of meaning that occur when you recreate something in a new context. She explores sites of exploitation and industry, making connections between moments of material discovery in the past and our current preoccupations with resources and energy production.

Mair Hughes is based at Stroud Valley Artspace. Her practice centres on research projects, collaborations and residencies. Hughes was artist-in-residence with the Canal and Rivers Trust between 2015 and 2016. She completed her MA in Fine Art at Glasgow School of Art and has work held in the Royal Scottish Academy collection.

Exhibitions

2023
Between Sky and Earth, Landscapes of the Lark Project, Chapels of Rest, Stroud
Plant Communitas, The Rodd, Sidney Nolan Trust, Presteigne
Into the Distance, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh

2022
Severn Worlding, Stroud Valley Artspace
The Hide Installation & Sculpture Showcase, Nailsworth
Radical Incantations, Bristol venues tbc

2021
Horseshoe Crab Land, Stroud Valley Artspace, Stroud
Invoking Absence, Hallidays Mill Gallery, Chalford

2020
Incendiary II, Pound Arts, Corsham

2019
Material Flow, Museum in the Park, Stroud
Incendiary, Stroud Valley Artspace, Stroud

2017
Navigations, Canal & Rivers Trust Residencies Exhibition, Oriel Davies Gallery
Howler, G39 Gallery, Cardiff

2016
Curio, Canterbury University Gallery

2015
Elephant in the Room Conversations, Powys Castle, Welshpool
Participate Gallery, Shrewsbury

2014
Paradise Lost, TactileBOSCH Gallery, Cardiff
Transfixture, Project Room Gallery, Glasgow

2013
Prismism, Transmission Gallery, Glasgow

2012
Happy Yesterday II, Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown, Powys
Happy Yesterday I, The Robert Owen Museum, Newtown, Powys
Geological Etiquette, The Late Shows 2012, The Mining Institute, Newcastle

2011
Scientific Stranger II, The Centre for Alternative Technology, Wales
Scientific Stranger I, Allenheads Blacksmith Shop, Northumberland

2010
Rough Luxe, 102 Hope St, Glasgow International Festival Fringe

2009
Unstable Objects, +44 141 Gallery, SWG3, Glasgow
Posthumous Humous, A. Vermin (artist-run space), Glasgow

2008
RSA Annual Exhibition Invited Artist, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Members Show, Transmission, Glasgow
Caked On, Project Room Gallery, Glasgow

2007
Further More, Artnews Projects, Berlin
Outline or Infill, The Vic Project Space, Glasgow School of Art

2006
Surface, Oriel Davies Gallery, Wales
Kunstvlaai 6, Westergasfabriekterrein, Amsterdam
Interim Show, MFA class show Mackintosh Museum, Glasgow
Russian Dolls, The Assembly gallery, Glasgow
Pressionism, Barnes Building Project Space, Glasgow

2004
Noir ce Soir, Wagdas gallery, Bethnal Green, London

2003-2005
Insiders: Art and the Box,
Oriel Davies Gallery, Quay Arts, Isle of Wight, Rugby Museum and Art Gallery,
Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Highland Council Galleries

Works held in public collections
Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Robert Owen Museum, Newtown

Residencies / Projects / Awards
2015-2016:
Montgomery Canal Artist in Residence,
Research residency with Canals & Rivers Trust Wales,
Funded by Arts Council Wales
2011-2012:
Utopian Realism Project,
Research and work production funded by Arts Council Wales
and Arts Council England
2011:
Residency at The Centre for
Alternative Technology, Wales
2010:
Hope Scott Trust Award
2007:
Royal Scottish Academy Barns-Graham Travel Award - Northern Italy
Glasgow Sculpture Studio Graduate Award
2006:
Henry Moore Foundation Post-graduate bursary
2005-2007:
Leverhulme Scholarship Tuition and maintenance award
2005:
John Keppie Sculpture Scholarship, Glasgow School of Art
2004:
Artist in Residence, Oriel Davies Gallery, Wales
2002-2003:
Arts Council of Wales Research and Professional Development Award

Education
2005-2007 Masters in Fine Art, Glasgow School of Art
2002-2003 National Certificate of Fine Art, Lyon School of Art
1997-2001 BA Fine Art and French, Exeter University
1999-2000 Exchange programme, Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Nantes