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Staff profile / Cecile Johnson Soliz

Subject Leader Sculpture
Room 0.42
Cardiff School of Art and Design
University of Wales Institute Cardiff
Howard Gardens
Cardiff CF24 0SP
Tel: 02920 416602

Email: cjohnson@uwic.ac.uk

In a complex, homogenised and highly technological society, Cecile Johnson Soliz’s work, with a focus on the hand-made, offers a new framework for reflecting on the interrelationships between people and their cultures. Her work makes us question how we think about the material world we live in, how we order ourselves in it, and how we communicate and relate to one another. Her work is both contemplative and functional –qualities which together reflect the human condition. Her work often questions the boundaries between fine art, design and craft and she locates her practise in the studio, urban and rural locations and the factories where some of her works are made. She has worked in numerous factories on projects with workers in Italy and England (Warm, Castellamonte; Cocoa Sets, Bournville; Skyline, Measham Leicestershire).

Johnson Soliz has exhibited in group shows such as Objects for the Ideal Home, Serpentine Gallery, London (curator Marco Livingstone; 1991), Affinita, Castello di Rivara, Italy (curators Franz Paludetto and Carolin Lindig; 1996), In the Midst of Things, Bournville (curators Gavin Wade and Nigel Prince; 1999), Private View, Barnard Castle (curators Penelope Curtis and Veit Gorner; 1996) amongst others. More recently she has shown in Still Life, Roche Court (curator Helen Waters; 2006/07).

She has exhibited in one-person shows at the National Museum and Gallery of Wales (1999; 2007), the Castello di Rivara (2000, 2004) and Arte Contemporanea in Turin (2004). She recently exhibited new work made during her sabbatical from CSAD at the National Museum in Cardiff (2007). Mike Tooby of the National Museum writes, ‘Cecile Johnson Soliz makes objects which may seem functional, but also have the abstract properties of sculpture or pictures; or the other way around – sculpture which, by the way it is made, can become functional, even while it prompts ideas about space and the ay people interact.’

Cecile Johnson-Soliz is a member of the Centre for Fine Art Research (http://www.wirad.ac.uk/research-themes/centre-for-fine-art/), part of the Fine Art & Ceramics theme within WIRAD.

Research Awards

2004 Creative Wales Award, Arts Council of Wales
2002 Good Ideas Award, Cywaith Cymru Artwork Wales
2001 Henry Moore Foundation Award

Conference Papers / Presentations

(2005) Johnson-Soliz, C. ‘The Senses and Sounds of Bronze’, Henry Moore Insititute, Leeds
(2003) Johnson-Soliz, C. ‘Getting in Touch with Things’, Victoria & Albert Museum Research Group for NEVAC
(2002) Johnson-Soliz, C ‘Making things flat and drawing things out’, Intention and Interpretation in Ceramic Art Conference, Torridge District Council, North Devon

Exhibitions / Events

2008-2009 ‘Sculpture Studio’ (solo-show), Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
2007 'Proposition: Room' (solo-show), National Museum & Gallery Wales
2007 things we lost in the fire, Leicester city art gallery
2007 'still life', Roche Court New Art Centre & Sculpture Park
2006 things we lost in the fire, Transitions Gallery, London
2005 ‘New Acquisitions on Paper: Phyllida Barlow, Cecile Johnson Soliz, Sarah Stanton’, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds
2005 Strata, Strata Florida Wales & Kells, Ireland
2004 Solo-show, Castello di Rivara, Centre for Contemporary Art, Rivara Italy
2004 Arte Contemporanea, (solo-show), Turin, Italy
2003 (f)utility, Roche Court, New Art Centre & Sculpture Park
2003 Galerie Lindig (solo-show), Paludetto
2002 ‘Warm’ (solo-show) Station, Bristol
2001 Solo-show, Castello di Rivara, Centre for Contemporary Art, Rivara Italy
2000 The Potteries Museum in Stoke on Trent (one-person exhibition/new acquisition)
2000 ‘Regarding the Function of Objects: Recent Sculpture by CJS’, National Museum of Wales, Cardiff,

Research Residencies

2002 Museum of Barnstable and North Devon, ‘Property of a Lady’ (one-person exhibition & residency)

Gaynor Kavanagh At Cardiff School of Art & Design, we believe in being at the top of our game and that includes being able to deliver programmes that really make a difference. We give our students every opportunity to explore all kinds of creative and professional possibilities, in an environment that recognises the importance of taking risks and seizing the initiative. We are interested in ideas and how these are examined through practice.