Philip Speakman
philipspeakman@hotmail.com
@philipspeakman
based in London.
After the Vale, video installation, with Steph Linn, 2026
The Thing in The Basement, presentation, 2026
It May Start Out as a Game..., journal article, 2025
The Road That Eats Thoughts, live role play game, 2025
Reality Break, audio for radio, 2024
Katabasing, XR performance, 2024
A Self-Induced Hallucination, workshop, 2024
Chapel Perilous, moving image, 2023
The Forked Path, moving image, 2023
After Cottingley, engraved
mirror, 2023
The Fauna of Mirrors, sculptural moving image, 2022
Transforming Through the Screen..., critical writing, 2022
No Flaming House, collaborative moving image, 2021
The Err, outdoor sculpture, 2021
Tell, story telling sessions, 2018-2019
Fiction haunts reality like fog precedes a cold morning
. My practice explores the anomalous fictions which shape and arise from our contemporary networked lives; those narratives which creep from the imaginary into reality through acts of political myth-making, viral weirding, and eerie algorithms, as the hysterias and anxieties of past ages return in the digital folklore and fauna.
Recently commissioned projects include artwork for ‘Phantasmagoria’ at the Henry Moore Institute with Steph Linn, the performance The Road That Eats Thoughts at Chemist Gallery, Reality Break for Future Artefacts FM, and Katabasing at Gossamer Fog’s Alt_R. I have presented research in the journal Contemporary Legend, and spoken at events including ‘Is This Still Play?’ symposium at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the 'Myths and Memetics' roundtable at Arebyte Gallery. I am based in London and currently working towards a practice-related PhD at the Slade School of Art.
education
Slade, UCL, PhD, 2025- (Research Excellence Scholarship)
Slade, UCL, MA Fine Art, 2021-2023
Central Saint Martins, UAL, BA Fine Art, 2013-2017
upcoming
Henry Moore Institute, Leeds, ‘Phantasmagoria: Folkloric Sculpture..., 15/05 - 30/08/26
performances, screenings, broadcasts,
Het Documentaire Paviljoen, Amsterdam, ‘The Fiction of Fiction Is Reality vol. 2’, 2026
Le Commun, Geneva, ‘Side Quest for the Real’, Session IV Screening, 2025
Des Bains, London, 'Cause Unknown' closing event performance, 2025
Chemist Gallery, London, 'The Road That Eats Thoughts', commissioned, 2025
Future Artefacts FM, RTM.FM, 2024
Gossamer Fog (Alt_R), London, 'Mudsimmer', commissioned, 2024
Flat Earth Film Festival, Seydisfjordur, Iceland, 2023
BBC Radio 6 Music, 'Petrichor Project' on ‘Introducing Arts’, 2022
Grizedale Arts, Lake District, 'New Build Day', 2021
Deptford Cinema, London, 'fivehundredthousand at Deptord Cinema', 2019
Art Week Exeter, ‘The Bomb Factory Artist Film Festival’, 2018
Lethaby Gallery, London, 'Temporalities', 2018
Elmer Projects, London, 'Film Screenings', 2018
Bury Art Museum & Sculpture Gallery, ‘The Next Thing’, 2017
The Bomb Factory, London, ‘Spring Artist Film Festival’, 2017
exhibitions
Hypha Studios 1 Poultry, ‘Cold Call, London, 23/04/26 - 30/05/26
Plicnik Space Initiative, London, ‘Step 4. PROFIT‘, 5/12 - 20/12
St Saviours, London, 'Present Images', 2025
Slade School of Art, UCL, 'MA Degree Show', 2023
The Crypt, London, 'DEADTIME II', 2023
Copeland Park, London, 'Ghost Show: The Haunted House', 2022
Slade, UCL, London, 'Interim Show', 2022
Worlding Project, London, 'Lambing Season', 2022
Grizedale Arts, Lake District, 'The Err', permanent outdoor sculpture, 2020
OUTPOST Gallery, Gildengate House, Norwich, 'Algal Shades', 2021
fivehundredthousand, London, 'The Strange Account Of Ellery Cordwainer', 2018
OUTPOST Gallery, Norwich, ‘Members Show’ selected by The White Pube, 2018
fivehundredthousand, London, 'The World Tour Inauguration - ArtLicks Weekend', 2018
talks and teaching
Conference presentation, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, ‘Is This Still Play?, 2026
Roundtable at Arebyte Gallery, 'Myths and Memetics', 2025
Associate Lecturer (Hourly Paid) Offsite Unit, Central Saint Martins, BAFA, 2025
Associate Lecturer (Hourly Paid) Offsite Unit, Central Saint Martins, BAFA, 2024
Visiting Practitioner, Central Saint Martins, BA Fine Art, 2023
press and writing on practice
Burlington Contemporary, Phantasmagoria... review by Elliott Higgs, 2026
Art Basel, When digital art meets ancient beliefs by Tom Morton, 2026
Šum Journal: Unreality Mode, A Playbook of Bewilderment by Luja Šimunović, 2026
Nero article, 'A True Story II' by Caterina Avataneo, 2025
Artist Interview, Future Artefacts FM, 2024
Artist Interview, BBC 6 Music, Introducing Arts, 2022
events and workshops
'Goodnight, Captain Midnight!', London, 9/8/25 (with Rachel Irons and Billy Sassi)
Workshop Facilitator, Raven Row, 2025
'A Self-Induced Hallucination' workshop, Lethaby Gallery, London, 2024
Grizedale Arts and National Trust, 'Young Persons Summer Films School', 2021
'End of The Earth Project', workshops, Cumbria , 2016
F.A.T. Studio, 'Tell5', London, 10/11/19
TACO!, Thamesmead, ALW Radio - 'Tell2066' radio show, 17 - 20/10/19
Wellsproject, 'Tell4' as part of 'The Salamander Skin', London, 29/09/19
Gossamer Fog, 'Tell3' as part of Future Primitive, London, 23/06/19
awards and residencies
OUTPOST Gallery, studio residency, July 2021
The Next Thing Award, shortlisted, Bury Art Museum, 2017
Acme Associate Studios Programme recipient, 2017 - 2019