January 2008 Collect with Gallery Louise Smit 2008 V&A, London
February 2008 Schmuckscene 2008 IHM, Munich
February 2008 Exemplar 2008 IHM, Munich
May 2008 Sofie Lachaert, Belgium
September 2008 Klimt02 | Gallery, Barcelona
November 2008 Gallery Funaki, Melbourne
March 2009 BKV, Munich
2009 Gallery Pilartz, Cologne

Munich, 2007. I am still roaming around finding things, hunting for and gathering materials, like I've been doing for years. No sea shores here though, a few river banks now and then and also heaps of junk. Europe: the residue of matter, contemporary and otherwise is exotic and plentiful, piled up in the flea markets, spilling onto the streets out of shops, being broken or discarded and crunched back into the earth for centuries. In the last years I have stopped collecting just anything to make my pieces and have now restricted myself in a non-puritanical way to reworking elements that were originally made for the production of jewellery. This seems appropriate for one so obsessed with the significance and history of decoration, these elements making a kind of double reflection, a new intensity of purpose. 

Along side this, from amongst the blur of daily impressions certain pictures manifest clearly and stop me in my travels, I photograph them regularly, these strong images - the supermarket, the half assembled fair ground, the chunks of roller coaster, the building site, fragmented images from the general debris of high density living. I observe in these places potential to combine materials to form structures and concoctions- this is a real source of wonder, I see this all around me, and it is this transformative process that brings about an intense fascination. That I make jewellery, drawings and paper objects and not fun rides, buildings or gardens is a good thing, because I am building in a way a very private world, that accepts no compromises. The scale of my work allows my full range of fantasies without requiring communication and without leaving a legacy of public monstrosities - instead I leave these modest little machines and landscapes for wearing. My practice is accumulative, experimental and heterogeneous, faithful to my life experience. It is also a conscious dialogue with matter, form and ideas. 

I create in my work collisions of design, Baroque, reduction resistant assemblages. There is a lot of pleasure here, and also a measure of aggression seeking it’s meaning in the present, walking directly out of my lived daily experience. Making jewellery, I play out the tensions and beautiful collisions of my practice in a small complex space. I am happy to think that these little things then find their way back out into the world and into peoples daily lives. I like the idea that they too will become worn and at some point perhaps even discarded, returning to be crunched again through the great geological and chemical machines of the universe, in an act of infinite transformation. These objects are romantic, but also explorative and direct; collisions of elements from the chaos and order of lived experience. 

Helen Britton, 1966, Lithgow, Australia
Lives and works in Munich.


Education:
1990: Bachelor of Art. ECU, Perth, Western Australia
1995: 1st Class Honours. Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia
1997–1999: Studies at Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia; Master of Fine Arts
1998: Guest studies at the Sandberg Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands | Guest studies at San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
1999: Master of Fine Arts. CUT, Western Australia with guest studies at the Munich Academy of Fine Art, The Sandberg Institute, Amsterdam and San Diego State University 
2002: Established own workshop in Munich with David Bielander und Yutaca Minegishi
2005: Diplom, Akademie der Bildenden Künste, München with Professor Otto Künzli 
2007: City Goldsmith in Erfurt

Collections:
Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia | The Art Gallery of Western Australia | The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney | The Museum of South Australia | The Art Gallery of Queensland | Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich | Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam | Australian National Gallery | Helen Drutt Collection, Philadelphia | Schmuck Museum, Pforzheim, Germany | Museum of Auckland, New Zealand | Stichting Françoise van den Bosch, Amstelveen, The Netherlands | The Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

Awards:
2007: Erfurter Stadtgoldschmiedin, Erfurt, Germany
2006: Project Stipendium, Kulture Referät, München | Bavarian State prize (Bayerischer Staatspreis)
2005: DAAD-Preis f. Ausländische Studenten, Diplom AdBK München | Herbert Hofmann Preis | Development Grant, The Australia Council
1999: Development Assistance, The Australia Council | Chancellors Commendation for Research,Curtin University of Technology, W. Australia | Development Grant, Arts WA, W. Australia
1997: Development Assistance. The Australia Council | Australian Postgraduate Research Award

Solo and Two Person Exhibitions: 
2008: Klimt02 | Gallery, Barcelona | Gallery Funaki, Melbourne
2007: All else Imaginable, Gallery Louise Smit, Amsterdam | Tier aus der Ferne. Townhall, Erfurt | Jewellery Machine Galerie Beatrice Lang, Bern Switzerland
2006: Urban Paradise Playground Objectspace, Auckland, New Zealand | Sofa, New York, USA
2005: Nature Stories, Gallery Biro, Munich | Home Ground, FORM, Western Australia | Second Nature, Gallery Louise Smit, Amsterdam
2004: Crisscrossing, Gallery Hélène Porée, Paris
2003: Ping Pong, with Doris Betz, Gallery Oona, Berlin | Silk purse from a sows ear-uus Schyssdrägg Angge mache with David Bielander: Gallery Biro, Munich and Jewelerswerk, Washington
2002: Pink World, Gallery Louise Smit, Amsterdam | Surprising Worlds with Doris Betz, Gallery Funaki, Melbourne
2001:Two Shining Stars from the Southern Hemisphere with Lisa Walker: Gallery Oona, Berlin
1999: Toxic Clouds and Cyberflowers, John Curtin Gallery, Perth
1998: Works in Progress. Flor E Conto Gallery, San Diego State University, San Diego, USA | Technics Festival of Perth. Craftwest – Centre for Contemporary Design, Perth, Australia (with Barbara Bolt and Lucas Ihnen)
1997: Savage Princess Comes to Town, Crawford Gallery, Sydney 

Group exhibitions:
2008 Collect with Gallery Louise Smit 2008 V&A, London | Schmuckscene 2008 IHM, Munich | Exempla 2008 IHM, Munich
2007: Projektstipendien 2006. Kunstarkaden, Munich | Die Blume. Galerie Handwerk, Munich | Kunst treibt Blüten. Florale Motive in Schmuck und zeitgenössischer Kunst. Schmuckmuseum im Reuchlinhaus, Pforzheim | Field of Vision. Sofa Gallery, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA | Kunst zum Tragen. Galerie Pilartz, Köln 
2006: Harmonic clashes. Le Arti Orafe Art Gallery, Florenz, Italy | Pattern recognition. Object Gallery, Sydney, Australia (Travelling exhibition) | Collect – The international art fair for contemporary objects. Victoria & Albert Museum, London (represented by Galerie Louise Smit, Amsterdam) | Schmuck 2006. Sonderschau Internationale Handwerksmesse, Munich and the Museum of Arts and Design, New York, USA (Travelling exhibititon) | SOFA, New York, USA (represented by Jewelers' Werk, Washington D.C.) | Trophäen. Seven Munich Jewelers. Rathausgalerie, Munich | Challenging the Châtelaine! – artists and role models. Designmuseo, Helsinki, Finnland | non omne est aurum quod splendet. Galerie Sofie Lachaert, Tielrode, Belgium
2005: Schmuck 2005. Internationale Handwerksmesse, Munich | Maker-Wearer-Viewer. Contemporary Narrative European Jewellery. The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland; The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh and Galerie Marzee, Nijmegen, The Netherlands (Travelling exhibition) | Choice – Contemporary Jewellery from Germany. Museum of Arts and Crafts, Itami, Japan; Galerie YU, Hiko Mizuno College, Tokio, Japan; Schmuckmuseum im Reuchlinhaus, Pforzheim (Travelling exhibition) | 50 Kunst-Messe München, Galerie für Angewandte Kunst | Pensieri preziosi 2. Gioielli senza confini. Oratorio di San Rocco, Padua, Italy
2004: Schmuck 2004.Internationale Handwerksmesse, Munich | Gold. OONA – Galerie für Schmuck, Berlin | Kleur/Colour. Galerie Sofie Lachaert, Tielrode, Belgium
2003: Rosa. OONA – Galerie für Schmuck, Berlin | SOFA, New York, USA (Represented by Jewelers' Werk, Washington D.C.) | 130º für 15 Minuten. Galerie Biró, Munich | Metal Element 6. Quadrivium, Sydney, Australia | KunstRai, Amsterdam, (Represented by Galerie Louise Smit, Amsterdam)
2002: Schmuck 2002. Internationale Handwerksmesse, Munich and The Ayrshire & Arran Craft Development Project, The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock, Scotland (Travelling Exhibition) | Natur und Zeit. Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus, Hanau
Rings. Gallery Funaki, Melbourne, Australia | Gold Virtuosi. Fiera di Vicenza, Italy | Plastics in Contemporary Jewellery, Museum für angewandte Kunst, Budapest, Hungary | Parallel Worlds. International Art Space, Kellerberrin und Perth, Australia | Oz Gold. Quadrivium, Sydney, Australia (Travelling Exhibition) | City of Hobart Art Prize. Hobart, Australia
Ladies First. Academy of Fine Arts, Munich | Schmuck. Städtische Galerie im Cordonhaus, Cham
2001: Schmuck 2001. Internationale Handwerksmesse, Munich and Wilhelm-Wagenfeld-Stiftung, Wilhelm-Wagenfeld-Haus, Bremen (Travelling exhibtion) | Ein Hauch von Klasse. Galerie der Künstler, Munich | City of Perth Craft Award. Craft West, Perth, Australia | Double take. Queensland State Gallery, Brisbane, Australia | Sommerfestival. Galerie Slavik, Vienna, Austria | Mikromegas. Galerie für angewandte Kunst, Munich; American Craft Museum, New York, USA; Musée de l'horlogerie et de l'émaillerie, Geneva, Switzerland u.a. (Travelling exhibition until 2004)
2000: White. Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, Australia | Quintet. Jam Factory, Adelaide, Australia | The World of Jewellery. Haus der Kunst, Muinich | Sommergäste. Galerie Handwerk, Munich | München presenteert... Galerie Louise Smit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1999: Schmuck ’99. Internationale Handwerksmesse, Munich
1998: Some like it hot. Galerie Handwerk, Munich | Jewellery Now. Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh | bad. Academy of Fine Art, Munich | Jewellery moves. Ornament for the 21st century. National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh
1997: Talente '97. Internationale Handwerksmesse, Munich | Bodyworks. Distlefink Gallery, Melbourne, Australia | Peeled. Contemporary works from the Peel region. Mandurah Cultural Centre, Mandurah, Australia
1996: Folding. Miniature textiles reflecting a Japanese tradition. Arts House, Perth, Australia | Folk Art, Lets Dance. Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, Australia | Head First. JMGA, Craftwest – Centre for Contemporary Design, Perth, Australia | 12th Textile Biennale. Tamworth City Gallery, Tamworth, Australia | City of Perth Craft Award. Craftwest, Perth, Australia | Australian Contemporary Art Fair, Melbourne, Australia
1995: City of Perth Craft Award. Craftwest – Centre for Contemporary Design, Perth, Australia | No Dinosaurs. Temporary Exhibitions Space. Museum of Western Australia, Perth, Australia | Drawing Out: Contemporary Drawing Practice in Western Australia. Lawrence Wilson Gallery, Perth, Australia | Theory and Practice as Situated Knowledge. New Collectables Gallery, Fremantle, Australia
1994: The Fremantle Print Award. Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, Australia | Textile Arts Australia-Japan Exchange Project. Craftwest – Centre for Contemporary Design, Perth, Australia
1993: Textiles: The Medium. Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, Australia | Portfolio ’93. Kalgoorlie College Staff Exhibition. Parliament House, Perth, Australia | Out there. Contemporary Craft from the Goldfields. Craftwest – Centre for Contemporary Design, Perth Australia
1992: Carsick. The Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
1991: Textiles. Hovea Gallery, Hovea, Australia | Four Artists. Kalgoorlie Galleries, Kalgoorlie, Australia

Professional experience (auswahl):
Workshops at:
2007: Poria and Bezalel Israel , 
2006: Manakau Institue of Technology, New Zealand 
2005: Newman, Western Australia, 
2003: The Dick Institute with Schmuckscene, Scotland | Rhode Island School of Design, 
2002: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia .

Guest Lectures:
Object space, New Zealand, 2006 | SOFA, New York USA 2006 | Reitveld Academy, 2006 | Zimmerhof, Germany 2005 | FORM Western Australia, 2004 | RISDI USA, 2003 |RMIT, Australia, 2003 |  Zimmerhof Germany, 2002.

Teaching Experience:
Guest Professor, Kunst Akademy, Nurnburg, Winter semester 2006/7
Guest Professor, HFG Pforzheim Winter semester 2005/6
Lecturer (sessional) Curtin University of Technology Western Australia 1997 – 1999
Lecturer Edith Cowan University and Kalgoorlie College, (sessional) Western Australia 1991- 1994

1997 [Cat.Exhib.] Talente '97. Sonderschau der 49. Internationalen Handwerksmesse. Munich
1998 Cat. Exhib. Game Amanda u. Elizabeth Goring, Jewellery moves. Ornament for the 21st century. National Museums of Scotland. Edinburgh
1999 [Cat.Exhib.] Schmuck ’99. Sonderschau der 51. Internationalen Handwerksmesse. Munich
2001 [Cat.Exhib.] Schmuck 2001. Sonderschau der 53. Internationalen Handwerksmesse. Munich | [Cat.Exhib.] Mikromegas. Schriftenreihe des Bayerischen Kunstgewerbe-Vereins e.V., Bd. 27. Galerie für angewandte Kunst. München
2002 [Cat.Exhib.] Schmuck 2002. Sonderschau der 54. Internationalen Handwerksmesse. Munich | [Cat.Exhib.] McMillan Kate, Parallel Worlds. International Art Space. Kellerberrin and Perth
2004 [Cat.Exhib.] Schmuck 2004. Sonderschau der 56. Internationalen Handwerksmesse. Munich | [Cat.] Helen Britton. Second Nature. O. O.
2005 [Cat.Exhib.] Home Ground. FORM. Perth | [Cat.Exhib.] Schmuck 2005. Sonderschau der 57. Internationalen Handwerksmesse. Munich | [Cat.Exhib.] Cunningham Jack, Maker-Wearer-Viewer. Contemporary Narrative European Jewellery. The Glasgow School of Art. Glasgow | [Cat.Exhib.] Holder Elisabeth u. Herman Hermsen (Hrsg.), Choice – Zeitgenössische Schmuckkunst aus Deutschland. Ein Lesebuch. Museum of Arts and Crafts, Itami. Düsseldorf | [Cat.Exhib.] 50 Kunst-Messe München, 2005, (October) | [Cat.Exhib.] Pensieri preziosi 2. Gioielli senza confini. Oratorio di San Rocco. Padua | Danner-Stiftung – Tätigkeitsbericht 2005. Munich | Le Van Marthe (Hrsg.), 500 Brooches. Inspiring Adornments for the Body. New York
2006 [Cat.Exhib.] Helen Britton. Urban Paradise Playground. Objectspace. Auckland | [Cat.Exhib.] Harmonic clashes. Le Arti Orafe Art Gallery. Florenz | [Cat.Exhib.] Galerie Louise Smit. Collect – The international art fair for contemporary objects. Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Amsterdam | [Cat.Exhib.] Schmuck 2006. Sonderschau der 58. Internationalen Handwerksmesse. Munich | [Kat. Ausst.] Challenging the Châtelaine! Designmuseo. Helsinki | Poljanac Katja, The Magic of Blossoms – Jewellery in Spring Rapture, in: GZ Art + Design, International Jewelry Magazine 2006, Nr. 2 (May), 52-56
2007 [Cat.Exhib.] Holzach Cornelie (Hrsg.), Kunst treibt Blüten / Art ist flowering. Schmuckmuseum im Reuchlinhaus, Pforzheim. Stuttgart | Helen Britton ist Stadtgoldschmied, in: GZ – Goldschmiede Zeitung, April 2007, 174/175
Lupton Ellen, Framing. The Art of Jewelry, in: Metalsmith 2007, Vol. 27, Nr. 4, curated Exhibition in Print, 14/15 | Helen Britton is the City Goldsmith, in: GZ Art + Design, International Jewelry Magazine 2007, Nr. 2 (May), 95 | [Cat.Exhib.] Field of Vision Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana USA 

Klimt02 | Gallery
Gallery Sofie Lachaert, Tielrode, Belgium
Gallery Funaki, Melbourne, Australia
Gallery Helene Poree, Paris, France