Phil Sayers

Biography

Phil Sayers

Phil Sayers is a transvestite artist who performs feminine masquerade in photographic images often referencing art historical sources.

The work critiques and subverts representations of women, usually by male artists, found in traditional painting and sculpture. It questions past and present culturally-imposed gender stereotypes from a feminist perspective, and interrogates how gender is constructed and performed.

Studied Fine Art at Manchester College of Art and Design with postgraduate study at Leeds College of Art and Leeds University. Currently teaches Fine Art occasionally at Staffordshire University and has recently been associated with other UK universities – Derby, East London, Leeds, Lincoln, Loughborough & Wolverhampton – as a visiting tutor or external examiner.

Originally a printmaker, the adoption of a feminine persona and the transition to photographic masquerade occurred a decade ago to fulfill personal as well as artistic needs. Previous work had its roots in traditional printmaking techniques, but during the 90’s transcended the boundaries of a narrow or purist definition by progressively exploring various combinations of screenprint, intaglio, non-silver photography, chemical patination & digital production.

Since 2000 Phil Sayers has frequently collaborated with Norwegian artist Rikke Lundgreen. The Changing Places sequence of exhibitions (2007-8) was their most recent project working with historical collections at six different UK galleries. It involved researching those collections and selecting specific pieces on which to base new photo and video works in which they or their associates perform. Sayers’ Waterhouse-related pieces Circe and Shalott were a product of this project.

For further information see:
www.philsayers.co.uk
www.sayersandlundgreen.com


Selection of exhibitions from the last 10 years:

2007/8 Changing Places Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight
Bury Art Gallery, Museum + Archives
The Collection & Tennyson Research Centre, Lincoln
Leeds Art Gallery

2006 Visualizing TRANS Kupfer Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

2005 Eight @ the warehouse Hereford Photography Festival Fringe

2004 Britney’s Smears Catalyst Arts, Belfast

2003 Fading Away Royal Pump Rooms Museum & Art Gallery,
Leamington Spa

The Classical Present Bury Art Gallery, Museum + Archives

2002 Vogue Divine Manchester Poetry Festival
Lilla Europa Biennale Hallsberg & Örebro, Sweden
Age and Gender Orleans House Gallery, London + touring

2001 Art in St Mary Magdalene Munster Square, London
Brighton Icons St Bartholomew Church, Brighton

2000 A Woman’s Realm Solo exhibition, Pleiades Gallery, Athens
Chronos - ein Tag Schneiglinger Strasse 225-232, Nürnberg

1998 Dragged Real Gallery, W26thSt, New York