Behjat Omer Abdulla Born 1976 Kurdistan/Iraq Lives and work in Borås/ Gothenburg, Sweden E: behjatoa@gmail.com T: + 46 (0) 720215131
Work: Freelance Artist Artistic Director of River of Light Amanuenses, Valand Academy, Gothenburg University Education: 2019: Critical Pedagogy and project leading, Valand Academy, Gothenburg University, Sweden. 2016: MFA Fine Art Degree, Valand Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden 2010: First Class Honours, BA-Fine Art in Staffordshire University, UK 2007: ABC Level 1 Art design and Creative Studies Digital Imaging, Stoke-on-Trent College, UK 1992-7: Diploma, in Painting, Sulaimaniyah Institute of Fine Arts, Kurdistan/Iraq
Awards: 2017-18: Drone Vision Project, Hasselblad Foundation 2017: Konstnärsnämnden, International project grant 2016: Konstnärsnämnden, One year working grant 2016: Eric Ericsons Stipendium 2016: Valnd Academy Award 2016: Swedish Intercultural Art Grant 2015 The Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts 2014: Norwegian Art Council 2010: Awarded the prize for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Fine Art, Staffordshire University, UK 2009: Photography show “Home” Burslem School of Art, UK
Selected Group Exhibitions: Upcoming shows/events: 2019 - 2022: Resignation Syndrome: Mural in collaboration with Kulturbyrået Mesen at Dronningens gate 27, Oslo, Norway 2019: May - June, Solo show, Vänersborgs konsthall, Vänersborgs, Sweden June - July, Sink without Trace, P21 gallery, London, UK 2220: January, Drone Vision, Sweden
2018: En Mal D'Archive, Station, Beirut, Lebanon 2018: Drone Vision, Hasselblad Foundation, Gothenburg, Sweden 2017: “Who are we?” Tate Modern, London, UK 2016: “Out of Chaos” Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, UK 2016: “Summer Dig” Gothenburg Konsthall, Gothenburg, Sweden 2016: “ENACT” Gothenburg Konsthall, Gothenburg, Sweden 2016: “STIPENDIATUSTÄLLNINGEN” Royal Academy, Stockholm, Sweden 2016: “100 for 100” Ben Uri Museum of Art, London, UK 2016: “A Brighter Darkness” A-venue, Gothenburg, Sweden 2016: “Unexpected” Ben Uri Museum of Art, London, UK 2015: “River of Light” Gothenburg, Sweden 2015: “Journey Festival” outdoors wall installations, Leicester, UK 2015: “CAN YOU DIG IT” Vasagatan 33, Gothenburg, Sweden 2015: “Human Condition” Tenthaus, Oslo, Norway 2015: “Adopting Britain” Southbank Center, London, UK 2013: “Höstsalongen” kulturhuset Borås, Sweden 2012: “AirSpace window exhibition”, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2011: “Counterpoint” Platforma Festival, Rochelle School Gallery, London, UK 2011: “Stick-Up ” British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2011: “Factory Night”, National Garden Festival, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2011: “AVENUE OF PORTRAITS” Hayward Gallery, London, UK 2011: “anti curate" Midland Art Center, Birmingham, UK 2011: “KMQ" slideshow, airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2011: “BE Festival" Midland Art Center, Birmingham, UK. 2011: “KISS ME QUICK" Harbour Arm Gallery, Margate, UK 2011: “Here Is My World" The Crocus Gallery, Nottingham, UK 2011: “DAT fest”, 100 Stories, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2010: Southgate Place, Bath, UK 2010: Black Country Creative Advantage, The Public, West Bromwich, UK 2010: “Wirksworth Festival”, Newbridge Gallery, Wirksworth, UK 2010: “Amaze” Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2009: “HEP”, Video installation, José Malhoa Museum, Portugal 2009: “World Domination 6”, Schloss Blumenthal, Germany 2009: “HEP”, Video installation, IM BANANAPARK, Berlin, Germany 2009: “HEP”, Video installation, Guildford Lane Gallery, Melbourne 300, Australia 2009: “Shifting Origin”, ArtWaves, Nile Street Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2009: “Oslo Open 2009”, Art film, Oslo, Norway 2009: “Home" Burslem School of Art, Queen Street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2008: “Bethesda Splendors”, Video installation, Bethesda Chapel, S-O- T, UK 2007: “Dishinit”, 404 Bowls with 101 People, New Vic Theatre, S-O-T, UK 2007: “Artists Against Racism & Fascism”. Stoke-On-Trent, UK 2006: “Straight from the Heart”, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, S-O-T, UK 2005: “Holocaust Exhibition”, New Vic Theatre, S-O-T. UK 2005: “Piconnectic”, Semi Gallery Staffordshire University, S-O-T, UK 2004: “Beyond Experience, Beyond Appearance”, New Vic Theatre, S-O-T, UK 2004: "Behind the veils", Elective Gallery, Staffordshire University, UK 2003: “Travelling Light”, Art Exchange, The Surface Gallery, Nottingham, UK 1997: Sulaimaniyah Institute of Fine Arts Gallery. Iraq 1996: “Diwar Band”, Media Gallery, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq 1996: University of Sulaimaniyah, Iraq 1995: Media Gallery in Iraq 1992: Museum & Art Gallery of Sulaimaniyah. Iraq
Commissions and artistic experience: 2016-2019: Artistic Director for “River of Light ” Lantern project, Gothenburg, Sweden 2019: Artist talk, Art activism and politics: in collaboration with Hammarkullen Konsthall, Blå Stället, Gothenburg, Sweden 2018: Artist talk, Contemporary Art and Politics: in collaboration with Gothenburg Konsthall, Gothenburg City Library, Sweden 2018: FOR A the EU Project collaboration with TILLT, Gothenburg, Sweden 2017: Art Educator GIBCA On Secularity, Gothenburg, Sweden 2016: Swedish Representative for Art Transforming Urban Spaces, Borås, Sweden 2015: Artist talk, Spaces Between: Practice research pedagogy, Goldsmiths, University of, London, UK 2015: Selected artist for Journey Festival, Leicester, UK 2013: Selected artist for “ London Road Festival”, S-O-T, UK 2013: Media Trainer for the Second Edition of the Wiki Week “Say it loud” Rennes, France 2012: Lead artist for ” My London Road” London Road Festival, S-O-T, UK 2012: ”Fringe Festival” Coordinator and curator of visual art elements, S-O-T, UK 2012: Artist talk at Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK 2012: Artist and Project Manager of Take This Waltz, UK 2012: Talk and drawing workshop, Staffordshire University, UK 2011: Kibblesworth Insider Art project, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK 2011: Curated ‘Kiss Me Quick ’, slideshow, AirSpace, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2011: 100 stories, Performance, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2010: Talk and drawing workshop, Staffordshire University, UK 2010: Conjunction ‘ESCAPE’ airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2010: Documentary Film ‘Common Ground’ Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2010: ‘Escape to the hidden garden’ land art drawing Workshop, Stoke-on-Trent, UK 2010: Over the Bridge Night, Film projection, Stoke-on-Trent, UK