Artist Biography

James Desser approaches his work in different ways, using varying mediums and he is a particularly skilled photographer. A playfulness is often present in Desser’s work that, though thoughtful, can often show a witty and irreverent view on a subject.

With artist Tom Emery, James co-curated the exhibition “Venture Arts presents…” at the Manchester Contemporary, 2017, selecting artworks from Venture Arts along with supported studios ActionSpace, London and Project Ability, Glasgow.

In 2018 James was selected as one of three Venture Arts artists to take part in ‘Other Transmissions’, the second in Venture Arts’ ‘Conversations Series’ of collaborative residencies with emerging contemporary artists.

In 2019 he was selected for HOME’s Future 20 Collective, a group of artists aged 18-25 who undertook a 12 month training initiative with HOME in 2019-2020.

Exhibitions

Until It Looks Like This, People’s History Museum, 2022.

You Can’t Stop Us, The Lowry, 2021.

Completely A Hustling Place, Manchester Central Library, 2021.

Last Place On Earth, HOME, online, 2020.

Last Place On Earth is created by HOME’s Future 20 Collective in collaboration with Studio Morison.

Conversations Series II: ‘Other Transmissions’, touring project led by Venture Arts, in partnership with Castlefield Gallery and the Whitworth, 2018.

‘Other Transmissions’ Tour:

Other Transmissions: Conversations with Outsider Art, the Whitworth, 2020.

TATE Exchange Event, TATE Liverpool, 2019.

Artlink, Hull, 2019.

Paradise Works, 2019.

The University of Salford, New Adelphi Building, 2019.

PERSPECTIVES, Venture Arts, Greater Manchester, 2018.

Art Jam, The Lowry, 2017.

Techno-colour, The Lowry, 2016.