Skip to content | Accessibility Information

Dr Michelle Stephens FHEA

Lecturer

Michelle Stephens is a textile artist, lecturer and researcher based in the UK. She has established a unique area of practice through her amalgamation of digital and physical methods of working. This cross disciplinary approach to her practice enables Michelle to pull from a variety of skill sets and discipline areas as an educator.

Michelle has taught across disciplines on a variety of courses at MMU and at other institutions as well as exhibiting her work across the UK, internationally and completing major commissions for public spaces.

A defining characteristic of her work has been the sustained commitment to the conceptual synthesis of contemporary technology and historical textile sources. Currently, this involves the examination of technology as a design tool by using the coding environment of Processing as a method of reanimating the traditional textile patterns of Paradise Mill, Macclesfield.

Michelle’s doctoral research, entitled ‘Coded Cloth: How a generative digital design process for jacquard weave design can reanimate historical pattern archives’, was supported by the North West Doctorial Training Partnership in the UK, and formed the basis of a practice-based PhD within MIRIAD at Manchester Metropolitan University (2015-2019).

Michelle is a lecturer within the Department of Art and Performance, Manchester School of Art at MMU.

Research

Exhibitions

Stephens, M., 2014. CultureCraft: Culture in the Making, National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny, Ireland, 21/1/2014 - 19/3/2014.

Stephens, M., 2014. endofthebeginning, Benzie Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, 3/10/2014 - 12/10/2014.

Stephens, M., 2013. Anna Cheyne Visual Arts Exhibition 2013, Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, 9/9/2013 - 21/9/2013.

Stephens, M., 2013. British Textile Art Exhibition 62@50, Koyo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 10/12/2013 - 25/1/2014.

Stephens, M., 2013. Construction, NI Libraries, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, 1/8/2013 - 31/8/2013.

Stephens, M., 2013. CultureCRAFT, London Street Gallery, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 29/7/2013 - 22/8/2013.

Stephens, M., 2013. LOOP the LOOP, Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, 20/7/2013 - 28/8/2013.

Stephens, M., 2013. Made, SpaceCRAFT, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 5/12/2013 - 13/12/2013.

Stephens, M., 2013. Making it 11, Seacourt Print Workshop, Bangor, Northern Ireland, 1/8/2013 - 31/8/2013.

Stephens, M., 2013. Pattern - Crafts Council of Ireland's Exhibition of Textiles, Limerick, Ireland, 31/10/2013 - 2/11/2013.

Stephens, M., 2013. Small Talk, Constance Howard Gallery, Goldsmiths University of London, London, 4/6/2013 - 25/7/2013.

Stephens, M., 2012. (work in progress), Craft NI Gallery, Waring Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 2/8/2012 - 31/8/2012.

Stephens, M., 2012. RDS National Crafts Exhibition, RDS, Dublin, Ireland, 1/8/2012 - 31/8/2012.

Stephens, M., 2012. T3: Textile x Technology x Technique, R-Space Gallery, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, 30/6/2012 - 21/7/2012.

Stephens, M., 2012. Woven Structures, Lisburn City Library, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, 28/7/2012 - 31/8/2012.

Stephens, M., 2011. +1 Residency Show, University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 5/9/2011 - 30/9/2011.

Stephens, M., 2011. 130th Annual Exhibition, RUA, Ulster Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 21/10/2011 - 20/11/2011.

Stephens, M., 2011. A Christmas Trilogy, SpaceCraft, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1/12/2011 - 24/12/2011.

Stephens, M., 2011. Fragments, Craft NI Gallery, Waring Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1/9/2011 - 27/10/2011.

Stephens, M., 2011. Material Messages, R-Space at the Linen Rooms Lisburn, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, 14/12/2011 - 21/1/2012.

Stephens, M., 2011. RDS National Crafts Exhibition, RDS, Dublin, Ireland, 2/9/2011 - 30/9/2011.

Stephens, M., 2011. Xmas Art at the Ivory, The Ivory, Victoria Square, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 22/11/2011 - 31/1/2012.

Stephens, M., 2010. Christmas 200, Canvas Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 25/11/2010 - 9/12/2010.

Stephens, M., 2010. Common Thread, Arts Care Gallery, Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 6/8/2010 - 3/9/2010.

Stephens, M., 2010. CRAFT FEST 2010, Tower Gallery, Castle Ward, Northern Ireland, 13/8/2010 - 15/8/2010.

Stephens, M., 2010. Degree Show 2010, University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1/6/2010 - 30/6/2010.

Stephens, M., 2010. Making Christmas Special, Craft NI Gallery, Belfast, 1/12/2010 - 10/12/2010.

Stephens, M., 2010. RDS National Crafts Touring Exhibition, National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Bar, Castle Bar, Co.Mayo, Ireland, 2/9/2010 - 15/10/2010.

Stephens, M., 2010. RUA Annual Artists' Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast, 15/10/2010 - 15/11/2010.

Stephens, M., 2010. The X-mas X-hibition, Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 2/12/2010 - 6/1/2011.