Heather Mullender-Ross
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Dr. Heather Mullender-Ross is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for MA Fine Art. Heather's current role involves contributing to the MA teaching, PhD supervision and being research active (Heather submitted to the REF 2020 and is a member of ICCC).
Heather was awarded a practice-based PhD from Newcastle University in 2023. Her PhD research concentrated on the work of German artist Kurt Schwitters (1887-1948) and her thesis was titled ‘Investigating Kurt Schwitters’ Merz Barn Wall as a Living Fragment’. Her research involved working in response to the Hatton Gallery's Archive (Newcastle University) and in dialogue with Kurt Schwitters' work, disseminated through three solo exhibitions within the Hatton Gallery (2018-20). More generally, Heather's research interests include practice-based approaches to art history; re-staging events, re-performance/re-enactment; creative responses/interventions in the archive; site responsive artworks; the legacy of Kurt Schwitters' Merz, Dada and FLUXUS.
Heather’s practice is multi-disciplinary, involving collage, painting, print, performance, moving image and sculptural outputs. She works as a solo artist, researcher and curator and is also part of the collaborative duo ‘Artist A & Artist B’ with Dr. Jackie Haynes. Current projects include: ‘Women in Print: The Caravan Press’ a two year co-curated project (with Research Fellow Tracy Hill) at Allan Bank, National Trust Grasmere (2025-2027); joint commission for Liverpool Independent’s Biennial (2025); ‘Women in Print’ artist edition at Artlab Contemporary Print; an ongoing research project into the work of Avant Garde artist and publisher, Stefan Themerson and a co-written book chapter MIT press, to be published in 2026. Recent (selected) projects include: Dadameno Festival, Italy (2024); Women in Print Symposium, Woolwich Print Fair, London (2024); British Textile Biennial commission (2023).
Recently published articles include: ‘Oben and Unten: Artist A & Artist B Set Off To Mainland Europe With Good Intentions’ Sch...The Journal of the Kurt Schwitters Society (2023); 'The Loud and the Soft Speakers: A Contemporary Iteration of Kurt Schwitters' 'The Silence Poem' Sch...The Journal of the Kurt Schwitters Society (2020); 'Towards a Gestural Archaeology of Kurt Schwitters' Pointless Collage (or how I learned about Schwitters' work through painting leftovers)' (2018) JAWS, Intellect Journal, London and 'The Caravan Press: Making Visible the Archive of Gwyneth Alban Davies' 2017 (artist book, limited edition) copies are distributed in The Sprengel Museum (Hannover); British Library (London); Glasgow Women's Library, Armitt Museum (Ambleside) St. Bride's Print Library (London).
- PhD Fine Art/Art History 'Time Past Contained in Time Present: Investigating Schwitters’ Merz Barn Wall as a Living Fragment', University of Newcastle Award pending (2017- to be submitted 2022)
- MA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art, University of the Arts, London. Award: Distinction. 2013
- PG HELT (Higher Education Teaching and Learning), The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. 2010
- BA Honours Degree in Fine Art (Painting), Grays School of Art, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. Award: First Class. 2005
- Pioneer Award (with Jackie Haynes), Newcastle University, 2021
- Brewtime Micro Commission (with Rob Mullender-Ross), 2020
- Northern Bridge Research and Development Grant, 2018
- AHRC Northern Bridge Consortium Studentship Award, 2017
- Heritage Lottery 'Sharing Heritage' Award, 2017
- The Dewar Arts Award, 2012
- McFarlane Charitable Trust Award, 2012
- Alistair Salvesen Traveling Scholarship to Japan, RSA, Edinburgh, 2010
- Shell Premier Award, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum, 2009
- Royal Scottish Academy Guthrie Award, 2007
- Royal Scottish Academy Guthrie Award, 2006
- Scottish Arts Council Artist In Residence, His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen 2006 Royal Scottish Academy Meyer Oppenheim Award, 2006
- Royal Scottish Academy John Kinross Scholarship to Florence, 2005
- Royal Scottish Academy Painting Prize and McLean Waters Medal, 2005
- Contemporary Art Practice
- CPRA Creative Practice Research Academy, UCLan
- Kurt Schwitters Society
My practice-based PhD project is focussed on generating new sensorial insights into Kurt Schwitters’ Merz Barn Wall (1947), situated in the Hatton Gallery since 1965. I’m interested in challenging the static and stable characterisation of the ‘Wall’ as a historical remnant of a past artwork, by exploring its time-based possibilities, multiple identities, materiality and ephemerality. I approach the ‘Wall’ as a porous structure to be disrupted, agitated, ruptured, manipulated, studied, re-configured and experienced anew, by using a variety of arts practice-based research methods. Re-performance is used as strategy for perceiving Kurt Schwitters’ approach to site, environment and materials; past gestures and actions are restaged and used as a reflexive device to facilitate new readings. This methodology is used to contain, distribute and to synthesise archival fragments, to articulate loss and to make visible the actions of those who have been part of the ‘Wall’s’ renovation and re-contextualisation. My project affirms the historical and continued influence of conservation practice in the surveying, movement and maintenance of the ‘Wall’ as part of its re-site in the Hatton Gallery. I’m interested in how this largely unseen activity - if made more visible - might provide new ways of connecting to the ‘Wall’s’ current and continually evolving context. In addition, how this can be articulated within and as art objects to give greater visibility to what was lost or is currently absent from the structure. My research is funded by Northern Bridge Consortium (AHRC) and I work closely with the Hatton Gallery to create exhibitions with the intention of encouraging dialogue between exhibits, facilitating new reflections and sensory experiences of Kurt Schwitters’ Merz Barn Wall, as a time based and expansive ‘living’ fragment.
Use the links below to view their profiles:
- Creative Practice Research Academy Hannover Project Research Group Centre for History and Public Engagement with the Past
- PhD project: Time Past Contained in Time Present: Investigating Kurt Schwitters’ Merz Barn Wall as a Living Fragment, due for completion 2022. Fully funded by Northern Bridge Consortium (AHRC). Statement of Intent 'S.O.I', due for completion 2022. Funded by Newcastle University Pioneer Award. Making Visible The Archive of Gwyneth Alban Davis, completed 2017. Funded by Heritage Lottery.
Telephone:EXT 3187
Email: Email:Heather Mullender-Ross
Use the links below to view their profiles: