Naomi Siderfin

Naomi Siderfin is an artist-curator and Founding Co-Director of the grass roots, artist-led organisation Beaconsfield 

Beaconsfield was founded in 1994 ‘to fill a niche between the institution, the commercial and the ‘alternative’”. The charity is a unique testbed, based in the remaining wing of the historic Lambeth Ragged Schools; a site for artists and audiences to experience high quality (‘beacon’), new art commissions in a wide range (‘field’) of contemporary visual art mediums.

The curation of an international programme in this context reinforced Naomi’s departure from studio-based painting into a situated and politicised art practice. This often manifests through BAW, the moniker for Naomi Siderfin and David Crawforth in collaboration as Beaconsfield Art Works. BAW has exhibited in contexts ranging from the Arctic Circle’s Alta Museum, London’s South Bank Centre, Berlin’s Hamburger Bahnhoff, Tate Britain, a Stavanger oil rig, Athens Biennale, Aldeburgh Music, to a bus stop on London’s Tottenham Court Road.

In 2023 Naomi was awarded a PhD by Slade School of Fine Art, UCL She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Authority and teaches in art schools around the UK, most recently at Royal College of Art and Slade. Her writing is published in several anthologies.

Since 1994 Beaconsfield has been a laboratory dedicated to the exploration and evolution of experimental art. An uncompromising space where open-minded artists and audiences come to challenge themselves and their understanding of what art can be. A supportive space for taking risks and exploring new ideas. A liberating space where people come together and ask themselves “What if?”.

Over the years the results of our experiments have surprised, shocked, delighted, inspired, disgusted, amused, terrified and mystified those who have encountered them.

We are based in the remaining wing of the historic Lambeth Ragged Schools  that we offer as a resource for artists and audiences to experience high quality (‘beacon’), challenging, new art works in a wide range (‘field’) of contemporary visual art media, through commissions, group exhibitions, performances, publications and cultural events that contribute to the public understanding of key debates and developments in contemporary art and culture.

Website:
www.beaconsfield.ltd.uk

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