Richard is an award winning artist, photographer, filmmaker and teacher. Work in public collections includes The Metropolitan Museum New York; San Francisco MOMA and the V & A and Tate Galleries London.
He graduated from Sunderland University with a degree in Painting in 1994. During his third year, writer and curator Val Williams included some of his photographs originally made as research for paintings in the show Who’s Looking at the Family? Barbican Art Gallery, London. A year later the Swiss publishing house Scalo published a sequenced collection of photographs taken of his own working class family in the photo book Ray’s a Laugh with a quote from the American photographer Robert Frank. This, together with a paragraph by Billingham printed on the back cover was the only text to the book, the idea being that the images stood by themselves.
He was offered gallery representation by Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London and began exhibiting internationally in shows such as New Photography 12, Museum of Modern Art, New York; Sensation, Royal Academy, London; Life Live, ARC, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris Paris and Pictura Britannica, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney.
In 1997 he was the first recipient of the Deutsche Borse Photography Prize and the following year BBC2 broadcast his film Fishtank, (47mins) produced by Artangel and filmmaker Adam Curtis, (www.artangel.org.uk/projects/1998/fishtank). He exhibited at the Venice Biennale 2001 and was nominated for the Turner Prize, also 2001, (www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2001/nov/07/artsfeatures.turnerprize2001) for his how at the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, (www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2000/jun/13/artsfeatures).
He gave up painting to experiment further with photography and video, undertaking a number of artist’s residency programmes including the Sargeant Fellowship at the British School at Rome and the Artist’s work programme at the Museum of Modern Art in Dublin. He also made photographs in Ethiopia, Pakistan and South America. Together, the residencies and travel resulted in several critically successful bodies of work, amongst them Zoo, (http://cma.staging-thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/article2405512.ece) whose main theme was confinement and its behavioural effects.
He was given a survey show People, Places, Animals at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne in 2007- 8 which consisted of photography and video about his own family, the urban landscape in which he grew up and animals in Zoos around the world, (www.theage.com.au/news/arts-reviews/richard-billingham/2008/01/09/1199554702152.html). His work is held in many collections including San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum, New York, V & A and Tate Galleries, London.
More recently, he wrote and directed the BAFTA nominated feature film Ray & Liz. (www.theguardian.com/film/2019/feb/23/richard-billingham-ray-and-liz-interview). The film visualises his families marginalised existence during the Thatcher Era.
He has been Professor in the Creative Industries at Middlesex University since 2012.
MA Photography
BA Photography
Richard’s lens based practice encompasses landscape, portraiture, documentary and narrative story telling. His photography and moving image work is exhibited in galleries, published in books, screened in cinemas and broadcast on TV. It is based on the close observation of everyday life and the works realism often stirs strong emotions in viewers.
His practice is also concerned with our connection to the natural world and ideas of home and shelter. Recently Richard has begun working with homeless, marginalised and disenfranchised members of the community in regional UK citiess
Solo Exhibitions
2018 Wakelin Award 2018, Glynn Vivian Gallery, Swansea
2017 Order Out of Chaos, Art Exchange, Colchester
Landscape, Federico Luger Gallery, Milan, Italy
2016 The Nineties, Frieze, London
2015 Panorama, Annely Juda Fine Art, London
Ray, Meantime, University of Gloucestershire
Ray, Glynn Vivian, Wales
Panoramic, Towner Gallery, Eastbourne
2011 Rays a Laugh/New Work, Guernsey Photography Festival
2010 New Work, Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London
New Work, La Fabrica, Madrid
2008 People, Places, Animals, ACCA, Melbourne, Australia
2007 Constable, The Town Hall Galleries, Ipswich
Zoo, Glynn Vivian Gallery, Swansea
Zoo Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London
Zoo, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton
Zoo, La Fabrica, Madrid
2006 Zoo, Compton Verney, Warwickshire
Black Country, The New Art Gallery, Walsall
2005 Black Country, La Fabrica, Madrid
Black Country, Galleria Marabini, Bologna
Black Country, Galway Arts Festival, Galway
Black Country, Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London
2004 Sint Lukas, Brussels
New Forest, ArtSway Galleries, Hampshire
2003 New Pictures, Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London
Trafo – House of Contemporary Arts, Budapest
2002 Fishtank, Temple Bar, Dublin
2000 Ikon Gallery, Birmingham (cat.) touring to Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin; Nikolaj Contemporary Art Centre, Copenhagen; Brno House of Arts, Czech Republic;
Hasselblad Centre, Göteberg, Sweden; Kunsthalle Willhelmshaven, Germany
1999 British School at Rome, Rome
Galerie Mot & Van den Boogaard, Brussels
Galerie Monica Reitz, Frankfurt am Main
1998 Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London
1997 Galeria Massimo De Carlo, Milan
Galerie Jennifer Flay, Paris
Regen Projects, Los Angeles
Luhring Augustine, New York
1996 Portfolio Gallery, Edinburgh
National Museum of Film and Photography, Bradford
Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London
Group Exhibitions
2020 New Masculinities: Photography and Film from the 1960s to Now, Barbican Gallery, London
Haus Modrath Raume Fur Kunst, Kerpen, Germany
2019 Children of Saturn, Rochechouart Museum of Contemporary Art, France
Snap Cardigan, Galerie Du Jour, Paris, touring to Hong Kong, New York and Tokyo
2018 New Acquisitions, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens
Hooked, Science Gallery, London
Walls Have Ears: 400 Years of Change, Aston Hall, Birmingham
Black Mirror, Art as Social Satire, Saatchi Gallery, London
In My Shoes, Art and the Self Since 1990, Longside Gallery, Yorkshire touring to Attenborough Arts Centre, University of Leicester and Aberystwyth Arts Centre, AberystwythUniversity
2017 Who Decides, National Museum, Cardiff
ON AIME L'ART.. ! Collection Lambert, Avignon, France
2016 An Ideal for Living, Beetles + Hutley, London
The Human Document, , Mead Gallery, Coventry (cat)
ING Discerning Eye 2016, Mall Galleries, London
2015 Embodied, Nikolaj Kunsthall, Denmark
Art and Alcohol, Tate Britain, London
Álbum de Família, Hélio Oiticica Municipal Art Center, Brazil
Beyond the Image, Bernal Espacio Galeria, Madrid, Spain
History is Now: Hayward Gallery, London
Art From Elsewhere, Hayward Gallery, Touring Exhibition,
2014 The Making of Mordor, Wolverhampton Art Gallery,
Visages Mediteranee, Le Voyage de Tara, la mer, l'intimate, Galerie du Jour
Only the Good Ones, Galerie Rudolfinum, Prague (cat)
Publications
2019 ‘Photographic Realism: The Work of Richard Billingham’, Kieran Cashell, Bloomsbury
2014 ‘Rays a Laugh’, Errata Editions
2008 ‘Landscapes 2001-2003; Richard Billingham’, Dewi Lewis Publishing
2007 ‘Richard Billingham; People, Places, Animals’, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
‘Zoo, Richard Billingham’, VIVID, Birmingham
2004 ‘Black Country, Richard Billingham’, The Public, West Midlands
2000 ‘Richard Billingham’, IKON, Birmingham / Agnès B, Paris
1996 ‘Ray’s a Laugh’, Scalo, Zurich, April
Film Festivals, Broadcasts
2019 Ray & Liz, Jerusalem Film Festival, International First Film Section
Ray & Liz, Las Vegas Film Festival
Ray & Liz, Sidney Film Festival, Flux: Art + Film
Ray & Liz, New Zealand International Film Festival, Auckland
Ray & Liz, Odesa International Film Festival, Ukraine
Ray & Liz, Melbourne Film Festival, Australia, International Panorama
Ray & Liz, New Horizons, Wroclaw, Poland, International Competition
Ray & Liz, Luxembourg City Film Festival, International Competition
Ray & Liz, Vilnius International Film Festival, Lithuania, European Debut Competition
Ray & Liz, Ficuman, Mexico, Official Selection
Ray & Liz, Dublin International Film Festival
Ray & Liz, Kong International Film Festival, Hong Kong
Ray & Liz, Oslo Pix, Norway
Ray & Liz, Cleveland International Film Festival
Ray & Liz, Prague International Film Festival, Febiofest, Panorama Section
Ray & Liz, Tallin Black Nights International Film Festival, Forum Section
Ray & Liz, Festival of Buenos Aires, International Competition
Ray & Liz, Jeonju Film Festival, South Korea, Debut Film Maker’s Section
Ray & Liz, European First Film Festival of Angers, European First Feature Film Section
Ray & Liz, International Film Festival, Rotterdam, Bright Future Section
Ray & Liz, Bergamo Film Meeting, International Competition
Ray & Liz, FILMADRID
Ray & Liz, Uruguay Film Festival
Ray & Liz, Bogota International Film Festival, Columbia
Ray & Liz, Cyprus Film Days International Film Festival, International Competition
Ray & Liz, D’A Film Festival, Barcelona, Spain
Ray & Liz, Brussels International Film Festival, International Competition
Ray & Liz, Transilvania International Film Festival, Supernova Section
Ray & Liz, Skopje Film Festival, European Film Programme, Republic of North Macedonia
Ray & Liz, Yerevan International Film Festival, Armenia, International Competition Section
Ray & Liz, Kosice Art Film Festival, Kosice, Slovakia
Ray & Liz, Miradas International Film Festival, Mexico
Ray & Liz, Glasgow Film Festival
Ray & Liz, Leeds International Film Festival
Ray & Liz, Borderlines Film Festival, Herefordshire, UK
Ray & Liz, Fringe Arts Bath
Ray & Liz, Foyle Film Festival, Londonderry
2018 Ray & Liz, Locarno, Concorso Internazionale Section
Ray & Liz, Toronto International Film Festival, Official Section
Ray & Liz, BFI London Film Festival, First Feature Section
Ray & Liz, New York Film Festival, Official Selection
Ray & Liz, American Film Institute Festival, New Auteurs, Los Angeles
Ray & Liz, Vienna International Film Festival, Vienna, Main Section
Ray & Liz, CPH:PIX, Copenhagen, Audience Award Section
Ray & Liz, Miskolc International Film Festival, Hungary, Official Selection
Ray & Liz, El Gouna, Egypt, Feature Narrative Competition Section
Ray & Liz, Singapore International Film Festival, Cinema Today Section
Ray & Liz, Moscow British Film Festival
Ray & Liz, Vancouver International Festival
Ray & Liz, Istanbul Filmekini Film Festival
Ray & Liz, Festival Du Nouveau Cinema, Montreal, Les Nouveaux Alchmistes Section
Ray & Liz, Thessaloniki Film Festival, Greece, International Competition Section
Ray & Liz, Festival De Sevilla, International Competition
Ray & Liz, Lisbon and Sintra International Film Festival, Official Competition Section
Ray & Liz, Stockholm Film Festival, Impact Competition
Ray & Liz, Film Festival Cologne, Look Section
Ray & Liz, Sao Paula Mostra, Brazil, New Film Makers Competition
Ray & Liz, Umea European Festival, Sweden
Ray & Liz, Around the World in Fourteen Films, Berlin
Ray & Liz, Kerala International Film Festival, India, Official World Cinema Section
Ray & Liz, Pune International Film Festival, India
2016 Ray, The Electric, Birmingham
Ray, British Film Institute (BFI), London
Ray, Art’s Club, Mayfair, London
2013 Siberian Tiger, Kino der Kunst, Munich
Siberian Tiger, Glasgow Film Festival
2012 Siberian Tiger, Rome Film Festival
Siberian Tiger’ Broadcast on Channel 4
Fishtank, Le Bal, Paris
2009 Zoo, Miami International Film Festival, USA
Zoo, 11 Festival Internacional de Curtas de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Zoo, 20th International Documentary Festival of Marseille
2008 Zoo, MostraVideo, Instituto Itau Cultural, Sao Paulo
2007 Zoo, 60th Locarno International Film Festival, Switzerland
2000 Fishtank, New York Video Festival
Fishtank, Visions Du Reel - Festival international de cinema, Nyon, Switzerland
Fishtank, 11th International Film Festival of Marseille
Fishtank, Electric Cinema, Birmingham, UK
1999 Fishtank, Diagonale Festival of Austrian Film
Fishtank, International Film Festival, Rotterdam
Fishtank, Broadcast, Arte, France
1998 Fishtank, Broadcast, BBC2
Billingham, Richard (2019) New photographic work included in the international touring exhibition 'Photographers... Artists and the Snap Cardigan'. [Artefact]
Billingham, Richard (2019) Two Masterclasses at Mata - diro Centro De Creacion Contemporanea, Madrid and BAFTA qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival, York (6th September 2019 and 6th November 2019. In: Mata - diro Centro De Creacion Contemporanea | BAFTA qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival, 06 Sept 2019 | 06 Nov 2019, Madrid | York (UK).
Billingham, Richard (2019) ‘Ray & Liz' screened at the Jeonju Film Festival (with director Q&A) and selected as one of the films graphic designers were invited to create a poster for as part of 100 films 100 posters event. Jeonju Film Festival.
Billingham, Richard (2019) Member of the International Jury, Marseille International Film Festival, 9 - 16th June 2019, Marseille. FidMarsielle.
Billingham, Richard (2018) Photographic work included in 'Who Decides?' exhibition and series of public events, National Museum Cardiff, 22 Oct 2017 - 02 Sep 2018. [Artefact]
2019, IWC Schaffhausen Filmmaker Bursary Award in association with the BFI
2017, Creative Wales Award
2016, Leverhulme Fellowship
2016, DACs Art360
2014, Panavision / Air France prize, Fidlab, International Film Festival, Marseille
2012, Arts Council Wales Grant for Individuals
2012, Artist-in-Residence Programme, National Art School, Sydney
2006, Power of Art, Artist’s commission, BBC and Arts Council of England
2004, Artist in Residence, VIVID, Birmingham
2003, ArtSway Residency, New Forest, Hampshire
2003, Virtually Real, Artist’s commission, Half Tone Press, Norfolk
2003, Prince of Wales Bursary for the Arts, Athens
2002, Sargant Fellowship, British School in Rome
2002, Artists work Programme at Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
2019, BAFTA Nomination, Best Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
2019, European Discovery - Prix FRIPESCI Nomination
2019, European Parliament Lux Film Prize, Official Selection
2019, Screen Awards, Best British Film of the Year Nomination
2019, National Film Awards UK Shortlist, Best Director
2019, Best Film Vilnius Film Festival
2019, Best Feature Film Award Subversive Film Festival Croatia
2019, SIGNIS Award, ADF Cinematography Award and Best Actress Award Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
2019, Jury Prize and TV Broadcasting Rights Award, Brussels International Film Festival
2019, Best Feature Film, 16th Yerevan International Film Festival Armenia
2019, Grand Prix, Luxembourg City Film Festival
2018, Douglas Hickox Award, Best Debut Director, British Independent Film Awards
2018, Special Mention, Locarno Film Festival
2018, Silver Star Award for Narrative Film, El Gouna Film Festival, Egypt
2018, Golden Alexander Award, Best Film, Thessaloniki Film Festival
2018, Best Film & Best Actress, Batumi International Art House Film Festival
2018, Grand Jury Award, Seville Film Festival
2018, Grand Jury Award, Best Director, Lisbon and Sintra Film Festival
2018, Special Mention, Festival Du Nouveau Cinema, Montreal
2018, Wakelin Award, Glynn Vivian Gallery, Swansea
2001, Glen Dimplex Artist Award Shortlist, Dublin
1997, The Citibank Private Bank Photography Prize
1995, Felix H. Man Memorial Prize
Adjudication
2019, Official Jury, International Competition, FIDMarseille, France
2018, Rome Fellowship in Contemporary Art http://www.residencyunlimited.org/opportunities/rome-fellowship-in-contemporary-art/
2017, Spectrum Art Prize. London http://www.thespectrumartprize.co.uk/our-selectors
2017, Sussex Open, Towner Gallery, Eastbourne, http://www.townereastbourne.org.uk/exhibition/sussex-open-2017/
2017, Reclaim Photography Festival, Birmingham, https://reclaimphotographyfestival.org/current-festival-2
2015, Royal Photographic Society International Print Exhibition, London http://www.rps.org/exhibitions-and-competitions/current-exhibitions/international-print-exhibition-158
2013, W-CA Open Contemporary Landscape Photography http://w-ca.co.uk/?page_id=161
2011, Foto 8, London http://www.foto8.com/live/foto8-summershow-2011/
2011, Open West http://www.theopenwest.org.uk/archive.html
2009, New Contemporaries http://www.newcontemporaries.org.uk/2008/selectors
2005, Rijksakademie, Amsterdam
Symposia / Events
2019, 'Finding & Keeping Your Voice', Accelerator Lab, Melbourne, Australia
2017, Symposium: Responding to a Landscape, (Keynote Address) MAC, Birmingham
2016, Q & A with Elizabeth Fullerton, Frieze, London
2015, Exposure 3: Human drama and documentary, ICA, London http://adri.mdx.ac.uk.contentcurator.net/exposure-3
2015, Revising History, University of Gloucestershire and The Wilson Gallery, Cheltenham http://hardwickgallery.org/event/revising-history-symposium/
2014 ‘Artists Films’, CPH Doc, Copenhagen, Denmark http://www.cphfilmfestivals.dk/d/mob/film.lasso?ser=2477&e=1
Speaking / Masterclasses
2019, Materclass, Aesthetica Short Film Festival, York
2019, Masterclass, Cineteca, Mata – Diro Creation Centre, Madrid
2019, Emmanuel College, London
2017, ‘Responding to a Landscape’, MAC, Birmingham (Keynote)
2017, ‘Order out of Chaos’, Art Exchange, University of Essex
2016, Quad, Derby
2013, Chobe Mela Photography Festival, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2013, Manchester City Art Gallery
2012, National Gallery, London
2012, Institute for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne, Australia
2012, National Art School, Sydney, Australia
2012, Griffin University, Brisbane, Australia http://www.qcagriffith.com/2012/08/richard-billingham-artist-talk/
2012, National Portrait Gallery, London
2010, Paris Sorbonne University, Paris
2010, University of Paris 8, Paris
2009, Sotherby’s Institute of Art, London
2007, The Ethics of Photography, Yale, Newhaven, (Keynote)
2007, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
2006, Darmstandt Photography Festival, Frankfurt http://www.dtdf.de/_site/seiten/archiv2006/symposium/billingham.php
2005, Photography as Art, Tate Modern, London
2004, Hogeschool Sint Lukas Brussel
