HANNAH LEES
she/her | b. 1983, Margate | based in Margate
Lees’ practice investigates ideas of cycles, constancy and mortality; the sense that things come to an end and the potential for new beginnings. This constancy, be it in religion, science, history or in matter, is made visible through her attempts to make sense of and recognise traces of life. Traditional processes, materials and rituals are often reworked to explore how ideas and beliefs can live, die and be reborn across times and cultures. There is a particular interest in how civilizations form and end around an ever-changing relationship between what is valued and what is discarded.
Education & Teaching:
2014-2021 Associate Lecturer, BA Fine Art Painting, Camberwell College of Art, UAL
2016-17 Lecturer/Head of Year, Fine Art, The University of Kent, UK
2011 Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art, London, UK
2004-06 BA (Hons) Fine Art, UCA, Canterbury, UK
2003-04 BA (Hons) Fine Art & Visual Culture, UWE, Bristol, UK
Exhibitions, Projects & Events:
2024 - Self can shade off into otherness gradually VOLT/Devonshire Collective, Eastbourne, UK (two-person)
2024 - Primordial Soups, Mucciaccia Gallery, London, UK
2024 - A Darkness more than night, Cafe CH'TI, Counter Editions, Margate, UK (solo)
2024 - The Garden of Delights on Earth, Gallery 46, London, UK
2024 - Permission to touch? 14 Cavendish Place/The Dot Project, London, UK
2024 - Something where before there was nothing, TACO! Thamesmead, London, UK (solo)
2024 - Anna Ilsey & Hannah Lees, Britten Pears Arts, Suffolk, UK (two-person)
2023 - DOOM XMAS, TACO! Thamesmead, London, UK (solo)
2023 - Hannah Lees & Laurence Watchorn, Sim Smith gallery, London, UK (two-person)
2023 - The Amber Room at Matt's Gallery, London, UK
2023 - To Be Here With You, Southwark Park Galleries, London, UK
2023 - Not really now not anymore, Roland Ross, 122 Hither Green Lane, London, UK (solo)
2022 - The material substance of their origin Hannah Lees & May Hands, Collective Ending HQ, London, UK (two-person)
2022 - The floor was where it fed, the oven was where it fruited, Well Projects, Margate, UK (solo)
2022 - All the living friends, TACA, Palma de Mallorca, ES
2022 - Once upon a time... Flora Fairbairn & Co. London, UK
2022 - I have eaten it Open, Space Contemporary, London, UK
2022 - [Index] Hannah Lees, Brockley Gardens, London, UK (solo)
2021 - OOOO: Hannah Lees, Quench gallery, Margate, UK (solo)
2021 - Cruel Intentions, Arusha Gallery, London, UK
2021 - EQX 22.20:20. 21, French Riviera 1988, London, UK
2021 - The last of the doors can be heard closing in the distance, Rectory Projects, London, UK
2021 - Hawks in her hair, Alice Black gallery, London, UK
2020 - MYCO TV, MOSTYN, Wales, UK https://www.mostyn.org/myco.tv
2020 - Desktop Residency 81: Hannah Lees http://www.desktopresidency.com/
2020 - A Land of Incomparable Beauty, Collective Ending, London, UK
2019 - Hannah Lees & Spencer Lewis, ltd los angeles, Sunday Art Fair, London, UK (two-person)
2019 - Cranes in the sky, La Centrale, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, FR (solo)
2019 - These are the days my friends, Kupfer Projects, London, UK (curated)
2019 - Ghost Camp III - Robin Hood (Hosted by The Mycological Twist), Nottingham, UK
2019 - "and I'll have a pepper-shaker in my cave so laugh" ltd los angeles, Los Angeles, US
2019 - If it's not meant to last, then it's Performance, VITRINE, Basel, CH
Residencies & Awards:
2024 - Artist Grant Award, The Eaton Trust, UK
2023 - Elephants Trust Award, UK
2022 - Developing Your Creative Practice Award, Arts Council England, UK
2018 - Gasworks’ International Fellowship Programme, Pivô, São Paulo, BR
2018 - British Council UK/ID Exchange Residency, Bakudapan, Yogyakarta, ID
2016 - Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop Micro Residency, Edinburgh, UK
2013 - Artistes en Residence, Clermont Ferrand, FR
2012 - Foundry Residency, Royal College of Art, London, UK
Selected Press:
Talk Art Season 16 Episode 6 Hannah Lees (National Parks X BMW Special Episode) 29/03/23 https://shows.acast.com/talkart/episodes/hannah-lees-national-parks-x-bmw-special-episode
A Land of Incomparable Beauty, Collective Ending HQ, Review by Adam Heardman, Art Monthly Magazine (September 2020) https://www.artmonthly.co.uk/magazine/site/issue/september-2020
Hannah Lees: Cranes in the Sky, La Centralers, (2020) Catalogue available from Naima Editions https://www.naimaunlimited.com/biblio/hannah-lees-cranes-in-the-sky/
From the Archive: Hannah Lees, Art Licks Magazine (2020) http://artlicks.com/events/7557/from-the-archive-hannah-lees
Nicholas Kirkwood collaborates with Hannah Lees, www.fashionunited.uk (13/07/18)
https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/nicholas-kirkwood-collaborates-with-hannah-lees/2018071330732
Nicholas Kirkwood NK Presents Hannah Lees (2018) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYloPpF9HI0
Hannah Lees at The Workbench International, Milan, Daily Lazy (10/16) http://www.daily-lazy.com/2016/10/hannah-lees-at-workbench-international.html
Turner Contemporary/British Museum commission (2016)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0_YJ648lBw&t=3s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYloPpF9HI0
Mahon, Emily. Hannah Lees Time Out (10/09/15) http://www.timeout.com/london/art/hannah-lees
Sterns, Jamie. 15 Artists to Watch: London Edition ArtNews 19/08/2015 http://www.artnews.com/2015/08/19/15-artists-to-watch-london-edition/
* Please get in touch with the artist to request a full CV.
www.hannahlees.com
@hannahjlees
hannah.j.lees [at] gmail.com
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_ed979c587d0441f8b01697b9b2d3a5b1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_963,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_ed979c587d0441f8b01697b9b2d3a5b1~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_3c47a16528bc4331a4b6fa55e329c453~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_302,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_3c47a16528bc4331a4b6fa55e329c453~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_ed33151f45234ad98e863ff863194bd8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_856,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_ed33151f45234ad98e863ff863194bd8~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_98b136360a434c4ba9b4a8b4170a5597~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_963,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_98b136360a434c4ba9b4a8b4170a5597~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_4f02ce08f6f04784819a896688e67a50~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_642,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_4f02ce08f6f04784819a896688e67a50~mv2.jpeg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_ed979c587d0441f8b01697b9b2d3a5b1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_963,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_ed979c587d0441f8b01697b9b2d3a5b1~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_3c47a16528bc4331a4b6fa55e329c453~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_302,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_3c47a16528bc4331a4b6fa55e329c453~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_ed33151f45234ad98e863ff863194bd8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_856,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_ed33151f45234ad98e863ff863194bd8~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_98b136360a434c4ba9b4a8b4170a5597~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_963,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_98b136360a434c4ba9b4a8b4170a5597~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_4f02ce08f6f04784819a896688e67a50~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_642,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_4f02ce08f6f04784819a896688e67a50~mv2.jpeg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_ed979c587d0441f8b01697b9b2d3a5b1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_963,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_ed979c587d0441f8b01697b9b2d3a5b1~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_3c47a16528bc4331a4b6fa55e329c453~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_302,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_3c47a16528bc4331a4b6fa55e329c453~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_ed33151f45234ad98e863ff863194bd8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_856,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_ed33151f45234ad98e863ff863194bd8~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_98b136360a434c4ba9b4a8b4170a5597~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_963,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_98b136360a434c4ba9b4a8b4170a5597~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_4f02ce08f6f04784819a896688e67a50~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_642,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_4f02ce08f6f04784819a896688e67a50~mv2.jpeg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_ed979c587d0441f8b01697b9b2d3a5b1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_963,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_ed979c587d0441f8b01697b9b2d3a5b1~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_3c47a16528bc4331a4b6fa55e329c453~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_302,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_3c47a16528bc4331a4b6fa55e329c453~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_ed33151f45234ad98e863ff863194bd8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_856,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_ed33151f45234ad98e863ff863194bd8~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_98b136360a434c4ba9b4a8b4170a5597~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_963,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_98b136360a434c4ba9b4a8b4170a5597~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_4f02ce08f6f04784819a896688e67a50~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_642,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_4f02ce08f6f04784819a896688e67a50~mv2.jpeg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_ed979c587d0441f8b01697b9b2d3a5b1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_963,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_ed979c587d0441f8b01697b9b2d3a5b1~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_3c47a16528bc4331a4b6fa55e329c453~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_302,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_3c47a16528bc4331a4b6fa55e329c453~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_ed33151f45234ad98e863ff863194bd8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_856,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_ed33151f45234ad98e863ff863194bd8~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_98b136360a434c4ba9b4a8b4170a5597~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_963,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_98b136360a434c4ba9b4a8b4170a5597~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_4f02ce08f6f04784819a896688e67a50~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_642,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_4f02ce08f6f04784819a896688e67a50~mv2.jpeg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_ed979c587d0441f8b01697b9b2d3a5b1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_963,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_ed979c587d0441f8b01697b9b2d3a5b1~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_3c47a16528bc4331a4b6fa55e329c453~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_302,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_3c47a16528bc4331a4b6fa55e329c453~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_ed33151f45234ad98e863ff863194bd8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_856,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_ed33151f45234ad98e863ff863194bd8~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_98b136360a434c4ba9b4a8b4170a5597~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_963,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_98b136360a434c4ba9b4a8b4170a5597~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dcfed4_4f02ce08f6f04784819a896688e67a50~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_642,h_642,q_90/dcfed4_4f02ce08f6f04784819a896688e67a50~mv2.jpeg)