When: Saturday 22 March 2024, 2PM – 3PM
Where: Studio A4 in Primary
Booking: Booking via Eventbrite is required. Book Here. This event is free with an optional ‘Pay What You Can’ donation. Donate Here.

Join us for a conversation in Primary’s Studio A4 between exhibiting artist Maia Ruth Lee and curator Jade Foster, taking place on the opening weekend of the exhibition Human Life in Motion, which features new sculptures by Lee made on-site at Primary, a newly painted banner made with local migrants—including Marwa Soliman, Hanan Shaikh, Maha Hadid, Shahlaa Al-Battawi, and Azza Elkareh through Heya Nottingham—and objects from members of our community.

This event developed from the first iteration of ‘Artists Mentoring Curators’, which emerged within a conversation between American artist Ellen Gallagher and Primary’s curator, Jade Foster. In place of a traditional speech, Ellen and Jade discussed how artists mentoring curators could contribute to a more conscientious, contentious and intimate arts ecology for the future. We welcomed Ellen back to the Midlands, marking 25 years since her first UK solo exhibition at Ikon Gallery in the winter of 1998. 

We also hosted an open studio during the event where people could meet our resident artist community and have informal conversations. You can learn more about the artists on our People page.  

This time, we look forward to welcoming you back or, for the first time, for a unique look behind the scenes at the expansive practice of Colorado-based artist Maia Ruth Lee.

Artists Mentoring Curators is a series of conversations and is part of our Artist Development Programme.

Access:

This event will happen in Studio A4, with level access from our main entrance. You can find further access information on our website’s Visit Us page and via AccessAble. Please email admin@weareprimary.org or call 0115 924 4493 regarding access enquiries.

Image: Maia Ruth Lee (Left) by Peter Sutherland, 2024; Jade Foster (Right), 2024.

Maia Ruth Lee (b. 1983 Busan, South Korea) lives and works in Salida, Colorado. Recent solo exhibitions include François Ghebaly, Los Angeles (2024, 2022); Institute of Fine Arts, New York University (2024); Tina Kim Gallery, New York (2023); and Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver (2021). Lee participated in numerous group exhibitions, including Center for Visual Arts, Denver (2023); Aspen Art Museum, Aspen (2022); Whitney Biennial, New York (2019); and Studio Museum 127, New York (2019). Her work is featured in the 2024 iteration of Prospect New Orleans, Prospect.6: the future is present, the harbinger is home.

Jade Foster (b. 1996 Sandwell, UK) works in Nottingham and lives in Yarm, Tees Valley in North Yorkshire.