About
My practice centres on collection and documentation of experience, memory and the traces of humanity.
Whilst also working in museum registration and collection management, I often incorporate, yet question, the ethics, administration and aesthetics of museum collecting in my work.
I use sculptural practices to highlight stories that are not historically collected through institutional means, often working with narratives of queerness and disability.
I am interested in textural interactivity as a key component to my work, allowing others to feel and touch my/other's experiences; creating a kinship across peoples.
Access is embedded from the outset, but also played with as a tool. I may not allow the viewer to access everything by hiding objects or displaying work out of sight; bringing the edges of one's access to attention.
I am increasingly integrating sound and music into my work, using field recordings and traditional folk songs. I enjoy the historical archival arc of folk song to that of queerness - a history that has been passed down through the body as the archive.
Contact
clayebowler@gmail.com
@clayebowler
CV
-
2025
Dig Me a Grave
Yorkshire Sculpture ParkTop
Queer Britain, LondonDig Me a Grave
Auction House, Redruth, CornwallDig Me a Grave
Steam Works Gallery, WIP Space, London2022
Top
Henry Moore Institute, Leeds -
2025
Ruin Gazer
Alma Artspace, Newquay, Cornwallthe body is a space in time
Fringe! Queer Film Festival & LADA, LondonTalisman
Cardion Arts, LondonNecrology
Haarlem Artspace, DerbyshireCollective Archive
Ugly Duck, LondonTrancestry: 10 Years of Museum of Transology
Lethaby Gallery, Central Saint Martins, LondonWinter Sculpture Park 2025
Gallery No.32, London2024
The Cloak of St Brigid
serf, Leeds2023
Body Architect
Norman Rea Gallery, York2022
Transmasculine Desires
Otherness Archive, Ugly Duck, LondonOn Queer Ground
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, WakefieldUK New Artists City Takeover
Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester2021
Cold Black Rain Shall be your Coat
Yonder Gallery for hcmf//, HuddersfieldFirst Outing
Queerly Made, Abingdon Studios, BlackpoolQueer Constellations
Museum of English Rural Life, ReadingSick! - with Roma Loudun
Yonder Gallery, Huddersfield2020
Queer Contemporaries
AIR Gallery, Manchester2019
Restricted Access
KiN, HuddersfieldSave Ryebank Fields
Link Gallery, Manchester2016
Archival Interventions
Heritage Quay Archive, Huddersfield -
2025
Live Archive
Queer Heritage and Collections Network ConferenceDig Me a Grave (songs) with Maddie Morris
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, WakefieldLive Archive
Trancestry: 10 Years of Museum of Transology
Lethaby Gallery, Central Saint Martins, London2023
Live Archive
Transcend Festival, BristolLive Archive
Tate Britain, Queer & Now Festival, London2022
Secured
CLAY - Centre for Live Art Yorkshire, Leeds2021
Measured Transition 2016-2021
Yorkshire Sculpture International, Leeds2019
Live Archive
Before you go home, Reading2016-2021
Measured Transition
Durational Performance -
2026
Group Residency
Scottish Sculpture WorkshopTwo Together Residency
Freelands Foundation & Porthmeor Studios, St Ives2025
Self directed Residency
Back Lane West, Redruth, Cornwall
2024
Art Rights Truth
University of York, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, WakefieldDig Me a Grave
Porthmeor Studios, St Ives, CornwallDig Me a Grave
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield2023
Jerwood Newlyn Residency
Jerwood, Newlyn Art Gallery & Exchange, Cornwall2021
First Outing
Queerly Made, Abingdon Studios, & Blackpool2017
Same
Arboretum Park, Derby -
2025
Artist Award
Henry Moore Foundation2025
Exhibition Grant Funding
Henry Moore Foundation2024-2026
National Lottery Project Grant
Arts Council England2023-2026
New Work Fund
Jerwood Foundation, London2023-2024
Developing Your Creative Practice
Arts Council England2023 (Shortlist)
Mark Tanner Sculpture Award
Standpoint Gallery, London -
2024
Wellcome Collection, LondonLeeds Art Gallery, Leeds
2023
Arts Council Collection, London2022
Otherness Archive -
2023-2024
Last Breath Society
Future Ritual, Queen Mary University, London2021-2022
PG Cert: Art Gallery & Museum Studies
University of Leeds, Leeds2020-2021
YSI Sculpture Network
Yorkshire Sculpture International, Yorkshire2015-2019
BA(Hons): Textile Practice
University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield -
2026
Cross Flatts Park Commission
Yorkshire Contemporary, Leeds2024
Sensory Interpretation Objects
Arts Council Collection & Heron Academy, London2022
Drawing as Stimming
York Art Gallery, Sam Metz, YorkTrans Postcard Project
Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester2021
Stimming as making
East Bristol Contemporary, Bristol -
2025 - 2027
Acquisition Committee
Arts Council Collection2023 - 2026
Registrar & Collection Manager
Museum of Transology2023 - 2026
Trustee
Vagina Museum, London2023 - 2025
Tutor
Starving Artists Opportunities2022 - 2023
Assistant Collection Registrar
ARTIST ROOMS, Tate, London and National Galleries Scotland, Edinburgh2021 - 2022
Trainee Registrar
Leeds Museums & Galleries and Royal Armouries, Leeds2019 - 2022
Director
Yonder Gallery, Huddersfield2019 - 2021
Young Curator
hcmf// Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Huddersfield2021 - 2022
Artist Advisor
Threshold Sculpture, Leeds2021 - 2022
Steering Group member
PANIC! The Tetley, Leeds -
2026
Workshop
Charleston House Trust2025
Guest lecture
Royal College of ArtWorkshop
QUEERCIRCLE2024
Artist Lab
Future Ritual, LondonGuest lecture
University of ManchesterGuest lecture
University of Reading
2023
Workshop
Henry Moore Institute
2021-23
Guest lecturer
York St John University2018 - 2022
Musical Director
Yorkshire Trans Choir, Leeds