AboutEllen was born in 1997 in the South of England and had a religious Christian upbringing. Her Father, Brother, Aunty and Grandfather are all ordained as priests. Referring to as an Agnostic herself, she has always questioned reality and the unknown of why we are here, our purpose in life, fascinated by how people view the world in different ways. This has influenced her current work and continued series ‘The New Eve-olution’ and ‘iHumans’ from referencing the story of God's creation in interpreting digital modern life today. Her artistic practise explores through photographic performance and a hybridisation of painterly materials and redundant hardware her internal feelings of being forced to navigate digitally in our habitat. She uses her body to physically communicate her perceptions of the digital environment, creating works of art that become a visual language. Her technique becomes a therapy for herself and hopefully for others, as she manipulates the body and image into a form of reflection. Inspired by media theorist Marshall McLuhan and his vision that ‘Environments are invisible’. He stated that the artist as a creator has a particular role in society to reveal this: ‘The Artist as a maker of anti-environments becomes the enemy in society. … He does not accept the environment with all the brainwashing functions with any passivity whatsoever; he just turns upon it and reflects his anti-environmental perceptions upon it.’[1] Ellen’s aim is to address Marshall McLuhan’s theories by creating anti-environments that can be used as a recourse in expressing the altered realities in our overwhelming digital world. Especially as the generation growing up now is completely submerged in the digital; Ellen states the future relies on art providing the visual balance between their real life and all-consuming online world. [1] Marshall McLuhan, “The Invisible Environment: The Future of an Erosion.” Perspecta, Vol 11, (1967), 161-7 Awards and FeaturesARTCONNECT | 'The New Eve-olution' photographic performance | Online feature 'Top Projects' 15th-21st July 2020
ARTCONNECT | 'The Extension of My Body' photographic performance and video | Online feature - Top Projects 1st-7th of June 2020 ARTCONNECT Magazine 'How to Build Your Online Presence as an Artist' by Veronica Johnson | Featured 'Digital Native User Guide Meditation' photographic performance artwork illustrating article | 1st June 2020 Winner of 'Artist of the Month' ARTSJOBS | www.ArtsJobs.com | May 2020 VACCZINE | Digital zine by Matilda Davy featuring photographic performance 'Digital Native User Guide Meditation' | www.vacczine.com Winner of 'Rising Talent 4: Young and Emerging artists' Exhibition | September 2019 Graduates 2019: Ellen Gilbert: Fine Art Painting by Lizzie Amati | written interview blog, blogs.brighton.ac.uk | 6th June 2019 ExhibitionsRising Talent 4: Young and emerging artists | 3rd - 15th September 2019 Hastings Arts Forum, Gallery 2
Free Range | 4th - 8th July 2019, The Old Truman Brewery, London Brighton Graduate Show | 'The New Eve-olution' May - 9th June, University of Brighton. Land and Sea | 12th - 22nd May 2018, Lewis Castle, Lewis Conjecture | 3rd - 14th February 2018, University of Brighton 58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton Foundation Show | 2016 - University of Creative Arts, Canterbury EducationUniversity of Brighton | Fine Art Painting - First Class Honours Degree | Brighton 2016-2019
University of the Creative Arts | Foundation Diploma | Canterbury 2013-2014 |