Blake Ballard is an artist, educator, and craft-lover based in Glasgow, Scotland. His art practice employs craft techniques to celebrate his interests, create ties to his family lineage, and connect with craft communities across the globe. These investigations address the role of craft in kinship, tradition, memory, communal fellowship, and queer spaces through an ever-evolving use of textile mediums. The resulting work frames these handmade objects as an avenue to broaden our social, cultural, and physical landscape.
Ballard’s work has been presented internationally in group and semi-solo exhibitions including The Davis Gallery in Denver, Colorado; The Robert Hillestad Textile Gallery in Lincoln, Nebraska; The Institute of Contemporary Art Singapore; The Reid Gallery in Glasgow, Scotland; the 40 West Arts Gallery in Lakewood, Colorado; and the Institute of Contemporary Art & Transfer in Hamburg, Germany.
Education
Glasgow School of Art
2022 - 2024 | Master of Fine Art
Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design
2020 - 2022 | Master’s of Art in Education Media Design and Technology (Distinction)
University of Denver
2015 - 2019 | Bachelor’s of Art in Studio Art and Communication Studies (Summa Cum Laude)
Maastricht University
2017 | Semester Abroad with the Center for European Studies Program
Professional Practice
Glasgow School of Art
2023 - Current | User Support Assistant, Learning Technology
40 West Arts District
July 2021 - June 2022 | Artist in Residence
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
2022 - 2022 | Multimedia Specialist
2019 - 2022 | Academic Advisor
ArtSnacks, LLC
2015 - 2017 | Community Relations and Marketing Internship
Sheldon Museum of Art
2016 | Marketing Internship
Redline Contemporary Art Center
2015 - 2016 | Volunteer
Full CV available upon request
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024
MFA Degree Show - The Glue Factory, Glasgow, UK (Upcoming)
F*Bomb - Vicky Myhren Gallery, Denver, CO
Do you know who I am?! - South Block Gallery, Glasgow, UK
2023
GSA + HFBK - The Glue Factory, Glasgow & ICAT, Hamburg, Germany
SWATCHEDxBlush - Pipe Factory, Glasgow, UK
Tropical Lab 17 - Institute of Contemporary Art Singapore
Goofy - Kiosk, Glasgow, UK
MFA Interim Show 2023 - The Reid Gallery, Glasgow, UK
Defining Our Voices - The Davis Gallery, University of Denver, CO
Future Tense - Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, Lincoln, NE
Screw It! - The Barnes Garage, Glasgow, UK
2022
Uncommon Threads - San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural Center, San Fernando, CA
Deconstruction/Reconstruction - 40 West Arts District, Lakewood, CO
Sanctuary - 40 West Arts District. Lakewood, CO
2021
Our Local Collective - Jux Building, Denver, CO
Resiliency in Action - Colorado Mills, 40 West Arts District, Lakewood, CO
2019
Anecdotes – Shwader Art Building, University of Denver, CO
2018
A Collection of Little Things – 023 Gallery, University of Denver, CO
+%&[]?;’*!#{}@ - BA Portfolio Exhibition – Anderson Academic Commons, University of Denver, CO
Press and Awards
2023
The Scotsman - MFA Interim Show at Glasgow School of Art
2020
Towwn Holiday Spirit Art Contest
NACADA Urban Sketching Award
2019
Senior Distinction Award – School of Art and Art History, University of Denver
2018
University of Denver Dean’s List [2015 - 2018]
2017
Cherrington Global Scholars Award