Laurel Gallagher
laurel@feralstate.org
Laurel Gallagher (b.1978) studied Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University and Art and Design Education at Oxford Brookes and the Institute of Education, London. She is co-founder and Creative Director of Urban Wilderness CIC an arts organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent.
Laurel’s artwork explores physical and psychological connections to family, land and nature through symbol, action and imagery. Her paintings and videos embody states of flux between illustration and abstraction, chaos and control, capturing moments of change, transformation and transcendence. Laurel works with painting processes and materials that purposely challenge creative control with disruptive techniques.
Exhibitions
Nov 2022; Entangled Fronteer Gallery Paint! group show, Sheffield
Nov 2021; Studies in Time and Space The Foxlowe Arts Centre Christmas Exhibition, Leek
Jan 2019; Birds from the Feral State The Foxlowe Arts Centre Cafe, Leek
Nov 2018; Portraits from the Feral State Boki Coffee Shop, London
March 2016; Shadow of a Feral State The Globe Gallery, Hay-on-Wye
Nov 2014; Creatures from the Feral State Spout coffee shop, Leek
July 2013; Magpies from the Feral State Piccolos Corner, West Leederville, Western Australia
Residencies
Jan 2023; Destination Dartmoor, Mayes Creative, Braken Tor
Jan 2022; Wild Swimming R&D, Anglesey
Commissions
Aug 2017; Follow the Birds art trail Appetite’s The Big Feast, Stoke on Trent
Aug 2017; Follow the Birds art trail Festival Stoke Art Street, Stoke on Trent
Sept 2016; Lost Garden Festival installation and nature art workshops, funded by the Art City consortium, Stoke on Trent
Awards
Aug 2016; Arts Council project fund; Feral Spaces of Middleport nature art workshops and exhibition; Middleport Pottery, Stoke on Trent
Publications
Hallam, J., Gallagher, L. and Owen K. (2021). The secret language of flowers: insights from an outdoor, arts-based intervention designed to connect primary school children to locally accessible nature. Environmental Education Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2021.1994926
Hallam, J., Gallagher, L., and Harvey, C. (2021). ‘I don’t wanna go . I’m staying. This is my home now.’ Analysis of an intervention for connecting young people to nature. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127341
Hallam J., Gallagher, L. and Harvey (2019). ‘We’ve been exploring and adventuring.’ An investigation into young people’s engagement with a semi-wild, disused space. The Humanistic Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1037/hum0000158
Conference Presentations
Hallam, J. and Gallagher, L. (2021). ‘How can co-creative community arts practices inspire nature connection in young people? A collaboration between arts and academic practice researchers’ Workshop presented at Young Nature, British Ecological Society 23rd June
Hallam, J. and Gallagher, L., (2019a). ‘I’m going to hug the tree’ Insights from a youth led intervention designed to facilitate a connection to nature with young people in a low SES area. Paper presented at the Valuing Nature conference, Royal Society, London 28th-29th October
Hallam, J. and Gallagher, L., (2019b). ‘If we don’t tidy this up where are people going to play?’ Insights from a youth-led, community based place making project. Paper presented at the Playful planet – For a child friendly world conference. Bristol 27th-29tth November.
Hallam, J., Gallagher, L., Harvey, C. (2019). ‘We’ve been exploring and adventuring.’ An investigation into young people’s engagement with a semi-wild, disused space. Paper presented at the Nature Connections conference, University of Derby 2nd July.
Qualifications
2010 UCL Institute of Education, PG Dip in Art & Design Education
2004 Oxford Brookes University, PGCE in Art & Design Education
2000 Nottingham Trent University, BA (Hons) Fine Art
1997 Hereford College of Art & Design, Foundation Diploma in Art & Design
Teaching Experience
2021-Present Art Club senior artist and team leader, Urban Wilderness CIC, Stoke on Trent
2010-2011 Art teacher and technician Weobley High School, Herefordshire
2004-2010 Art teacher and Community art officer The Forest School, Wokingham
2004-2005 Artist in residence The Forest School, Wokingham
FERAL STATE 