Matthew Cornford (b.1969)
The Art School Project (below)
Matthew Cornford and John Beck
For a number of years Matthew Cornford has worked with Professor John Beck (University of Westminster) researching the cultural history of British art schools, including an ongoing topographic survey of former British art school buildings. Since 2009, they have given numerous talks at galleries and universities, including ‘Excavating the British Art School’, Utopics in Art and Architecture, Chelsea College of Art and Design, 2010 and ‘The Lost World of the Provincial British Art School’ at Tate Britain’s 2011, Reflections on the Art School conference. The Journal of Visual Culture published their article ‘The Art School in Ruins’ in 2012 and an artists’ book, The Art School and the Culture Shed, was published in 2014.
Matthew Cornford is an artist and educator. He began working with David Cross after graduating from the RCA in 1991, for over 20-years Cornford & Cross created a wide range of art projects in response to specific contexts and situations. Their work and projects have been exhibited in Europe, North America and at galleries in the UK including Camden Arts Centre, ICA, John Hansard Gallery, Photographers Gallery, De La Warr Pavilion and Wolverhampton Art Gallery. A monograph on their work, Cornford & Cross, including an essay by John Roberts was published in 2009.
Cornford’s recent work reflects a realisation that both his art production and teaching are inseparable. His experimental approach to education and his knowledge of art school history informs conceptual artworks which range from large scale site specific artworks to risk assessments, from photography to painting.
Art Schools of the East Midlands
Bonnington Gallery (2024)
This exhibition is the latest iteration of John Beck and Matthew Cornford’s ambitious Art School Project, to track down and document all of the UK’s art schools – including the iconic Waverley building at Nottingham Trent University.
Featuring new photographic work depicting all the art school buildings of the East Midlands, or the sites upon which they stood, the exhibition raises questions about the role of the arts in relation to education, community and history and offers a space to reflect on what the future may hold for cultural institutions in our towns and cities.
There will also be a programme of public events exploring the themes of the exhibition, that will be announced soon. In our foyer space, our Vitrines exhibition, Art [School] Histories will present materials dedicated to the history and future of the Nottingham School of Art & Design here at NTU.
Risk Assesment Matrix (2017)
Screenprint, edition of 12
Lesson Plan (B&W, 2017)
AP Edition of 12
Art Schools of the West Midlands (2023)
New Art Gallery Walsall
The many art schools established in the West Midlands in the nineteenth century are indicative of the industrial power of the region at this time. Support for training in art, crafts and design was seen as good business and as a civic benefit, training workers and enriching the cultural life of the community.
Lesson Plan (Colour, 2017)
AP Edition of 12Harmony, Contrast & Discord (2021)
Touchstones, Rochdale
No Future (2017)
tee - size L
‘Art School tour T-Shirt’ with a list of all the Art Schools Malcomb McLaren attended.
North West Art Schools and the Record machine
Bury Art Gallery and Sculpture Centre
Hippo Campus: Where We Learn (2020)
Newlyn Art Exchange
A group exhibition featuring works from the Arts Council Collection that explores alternative schooling, peer-to-peer learning and self-education.
Space Frame (Black 2022)
owder-coated steel frame with found protest placardArt Schools of the North West
Bluecoat, Liverpool
Space Frame (White 2022)
Powder-coated steel frame with found protest placard
ART (2024)
Station Approach, Hereford
Commissioned by Meadow Arts
Typeform and fonts taken from various historic Hereford College of Art prospectus’