Sian Bonnell

Sian Bonnell
Born	1956 (age 68–69)
Alma mater	Chelsea School of Art Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic Manchester Metropolitan University
Known for	Photography
Awards	Honorary Fellowship, Royal Photographic Society
Website	www.sianbonnell.com

Sian Bonnell (born 1956) ^[1] is a British photographic artist. Her work is held in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Early life and education

Bonnell was born in London. ^[1] She received a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, Sculpture from Chelsea School of Art (1978–81); an MA in Fine Art from Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic (1983–85); and a PhD by published work from Manchester Metropolitan University (2012–13). ^[2]

Work

Bonnell's practice has developed significantly over thirty years. Initially her practice was such that she "places ordinary household objects in the outdoors and, therefore, out of context. She then photographs these sculptural installations, producing imagery that is at once humorous and thought-provoking." ^[3] Since then, "Bonnell's approach has developed into something she describes as 'Wilful Amateurism', which involves the fusing of sculpture and performance into something photographic." ^[1]

Publications

• When the Domestic Meets the Wild. 2001. With an essay by Iain Biggs. Exhibition catalogue.
• From an Elsewhere Unknown. Cardiff: Ffotogallery; London: Hirschl Contemporary Art, 2004. With essays by Mark Haworth-Booth and Mel Gooding. ISBN   978-1-872771-51-9.
• Everyday Dada. Stockport: Dewi Lewis, 2006. ISBN   978-1904587316.
• Wilful Amateur. Plymouth: Neverdone, 2025. With essays by Aliki Braine, Bonnell, Duncan Woolridge and a transcript of Bonnell in conversation with Susan Bright. Edition of 500 copies.

Exhibitions

Group exhibitions

• Secret Garden, Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham, 2000 ^[4]
• Seeing the Light: Narrascape, with Barbara Downs, Deborah Jones, Thomas Kellner, Clare Smith and Frank Yamrus, The New Art Gallery Walsall, Walsall, May–July 2003. Curated by Rhonda Wilson. ^[5]
• Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors, Royal Photographic Society Gallery, Bristol, January–March 2022 ^{[6] [7] [8]}

Exhibitions curated by Bonnell

• Elusive, Camberwell College of Arts, London, February–March 2011. With work by Suky Best, Karen Brett, Kathryn Faulkner, Anna Fox, Toby Glanville, Laura Guy, Fergus Heron, Jane Hilton, Juneau Projects, Uta Kogelsberger, Chrystel Lebas, Anthony Luvera, John Miles, Wendy McMurdo, Trish Morrissey, Heidi Morstang, Spencer Murphy, Magali Nougarede, Chino Otsuka, Helen Sear, Self Publish, Be Happy, Nigel Shafran, David Spero, Tansy Spinks, Eva Stenram, Clare Strand, Patricia Townsend, Steven Tynan, and Verdi Yahooda. ^[9]
• '...on Making', Gdansk Gallery of Photography, National Museum, Gdańsk, Poland, March–June 2019. Curated by Bonnell and Malgorzata TarazKiewicz-Zwolicka, with work by Cheryl Newman, Eleonora Agostini, Flannery O'kafka, Fleur Olby, Lydia Goldblatt, Maryam Wahid, Phoebe Kiely and Bonnell. ^[10]

Awards

• 2010: Honorary Fellowship, Royal Photographic Society, Bath ^[11]

Collections

Bonnell's work is held in the following permanent collections:

• Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas: 3 prints ^[12]
• Victoria and Albert Museum, London: 12 prints ^[13]

References

1. "Camera IV: Manners I", Victoria and Albert Museum, 2011, retrieved 2025-05-18
2. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ceff9ddcb3a8400011e6f78/t/679f97c8d8283d6d70ceeb59/1738512328730/Sian_Bonnell_CV_Full_Feb_2025_converted.pdf
3. "Beach Clean", Victoria and Albert Museum, 1999, retrieved 2025-05-19
4. Clark, Robert (2000-06-21). "Ironic over erotic". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-05-18.
5. "Seeing The Light". The New Art Gallery Walsall. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
6. Wroe, Nicholas (2022-01-24). "'Wisdom and incredible strength': the exhibition showing the lives built by Holocaust survivors". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-05-18.
7. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/piapeterson/photos-holocaust-survivors-lives
8. Thompson, Jessie (2021-08-04). "The making of a portrait of a Holocaust survivor". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
9. "Bonnell, S., 2011 - Elusive – Manchester School of Art". www.art.mmu.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
10. "'...on making' Exhibition in Gdansk Gallery of Photography, National Museum Gdansk, Poland". Manchester Metropolitan University. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
11. "Honorary Fellowship". rps.org. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
12. "Sian Bonnell". Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
13. "Search Results". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 2025-05-18.

External links

• Official website