David Osbaldeston
Reader in Fine Art
Jan-April 2026 Abbey Fellowship in Painting,
The British School at Rome
Sep-Nov 2025 Tales from the Expanded Moment,
Matt’s Gallery, London
Summer 2025 Artist in Residence, Cove Park, Scotland,
funded by The Hope Scott Trust & Creative Scotland.
Spring 2025 Monograph: A Pastiche of Different Techniques. Published by Slimvolume.
Drawing is the basis of everything I do. It is like a hidden language that operates directly out of the nervous system. This often manifests itself through other forms of media which separately take into account properties of collage, painting and fine print to produce a material outcome best termed collectively as ‘flat sculpture’.
In addition to the poetic variables associated with language this process of making ultimately presents a way to interfere with an established aesthetic or pattern of meaning through perceptions of value, class, or identity which has always been the thematic foundation for what I do.
I work and live between Manchester, London & Scotland.
Further information: https://www.davidosbaldeston.com/
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
External Examiner, MA/MFA Fine Art
City & Guilds, London, 2022 - 25
External Examiner, BA, MA, Fine Art, UWE, Bristol, 2015-19
External Examiner, BA Fine Art, University of Reading, 2010
Lecturer in Fine Art, Painting & Printmaking,
Glasgow School of Art, 2006-8
Research
David Osbaldeston is a member of the Art and Performance Research Hub.
Exhibitions
Osbaldeston, D., 2024. A Pastiche of Different Techniques, Glasgow Print Studio, 5/4/2024 - 25/5/2024.
Hunt, A., Osbaldeston, D., 2022. David Osbaldeston 'A Pastiche of Different Techniques', Moon Grove, 24/11/2022 - 25/1/2023.
Osbaldeston, D., 2018. Abstract Things: The Serving Library V David Osbaldeston, Bonington Gallery, Nottingham Trent University, 2/11/2018 - 15/12/2018.
Osbaldeston, D., 2017. Drawing Biennial 2017, The Drawing Room, 02.03.17-26.04.17.
Osbaldeston, D., 2016. The Practice of Theories, Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge.
Osbaldeston, D., 2015. Modern History Volume 1, 2, & 3 curated by Lynda Morris, Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool, Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport, Bury Art Gallery, Manchester.
Osbaldeston, D., 2015. The Top & Bottom of It, Mechanism For a Future Reference, Matt's Gallery, London, 2015.
Osbaldeston, D., 2014. Annals of the Twenty Ninth Century, Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge.
Osbaldeston, D., 2014. The Measure of All Things, Collective Gallery, Edinburgh., 15/3/2014 - 27/4/2014.
Osbaldeston, D., 2014. The Measure Of All Things, The City Dome, Collective Gallery, Collective Gallery, Edinburgh.
Osbaldeston, D., 2013. Living Matter - Inflection Sandwich, Piper Keys, London.
Osbaldeston, D., 2012. Marbled Reams, The Modern Institute, Glasgow.
Osbaldeston, D., 2010. A Model of the Serving Library (Diagram For A Search Engine), Amsterdam Kunstverein, Artists Space, New York 2011-12, Banff Centre, Canada 2011, Tate, Liverpool 2014.
Osbaldeston, D., 2010. Rijksakademie Open Ateliers, Rijksakademie Van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam.
Osbaldeston, D., 2008. Another Shadow Fight, International Project Space, University of Central England, Bourneville.
Osbaldeston, D., 2008. The Pleasure of Your Company - Nought to Sixty, ICA - The Institute of Contemporary Arts, 15/9/2008 - 22/6/2008.
Osbaldeston, D., 2008. The Pleasure of Your Company, ICA Galleries, Nought To Sixty, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London.
Osbaldeston, D., 2006. Your Answer is Mine, Matt's Gallery, 30/8/2006 - 8/10/2006.
Osbaldeston, D., 2006. Your Answer Is Mine, Matt's Gallery, London.
Artefacts
Osbaldeston, D., Holder, W., 2015. 'David Osbaldeston: Inflection Sandwich'.
Robin, K., Osbaldeston, D., 2007. 'A Trade Double, E3 4RR Portfolio'.
Osbaldeston, D, 2007. 'A Trade Double, Matt's Gallery Portfolio', A2 Folded Lithographic Ltd Edition Artwork. Made alongside 12 other national & international artists, designed by Phil Baines Professor in Typographic Design Central St Martins School of Art. Commissioned and produced by Matt's Gallery, London., Contemporary Art Society, Tate Gallery, British Council Collection, Leeds College of Art & Design, 2007-10.
Fusco, M., 2005. 'PUT ABOUT, AN ANTHOLOGY OF INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING', Book Works, London.
Books
Hunt, A & Osbaldeston, D, 2008. 'Another Shadow Fight: David Osbaldeston in conversation with Andrew Hunt', International Project Space, University of Central England, Birmingham.
Osbaldeston, D., 2004. 'On communication', Cornerhouse, Manchester.
Book Chapters
Osbaldeston, D., 2018. 'The Serving Library Annual 2018/19'. In The Serving Library Annual, Roma Publications.
Osbaldeston, D., 2004. 'The pen'. In Put about: a critical anthology on independent publishing, Book Works.
Journal Articles
Osbaldeston, D., 2015. 'Manifesto For a Photocopier, Art Papers', ARTPAPERS, may/June 2015, 6.
Conference Papers
Osbaldeston, D., 2019. 'Abstract Now Abstract Then, Gustav Metzger & Contemporary Drawing', Drawing Research Forum, The Drawing Room, London, 1/11/2019 - 1/11/2019.