ELEPHANT LABS – OUR ARTIST STUDIOS IN LONDON

We have two large artists’ studios in our London office which are full all year round with artists on residencies. Very popular with artists, residencies give them an opportunity to apply to work somewhere different from their everyday studio, usually with a view to gaining a new cultural or technical insight.

The Studio Building was designed as practical work spaces (hence the name) and the two studios on the 4th floor are equipped to allow professional artists and students to use the products that are designed next door in the I&D laboratory. Artists provide their own insight into the products and can also highlight areas we need to develop, they love engaging with the people who work at our London offices and see it as a real privilege to share their working lives.

Elephant lab is the professional artist residency programme run by Elephant, it evolved from Griffin Gallery residencies at the same time as Griffin Gallery closed and Elephant West opened in 2018.

Mathew Gibson is the artist residency co-ordinator; Mathew has been at Colart part time since 2011 and previous roles have included running the Griffin Art Prize and writing copy for the Winsor & Newton newsletter.

ARTIST RESIDENCIES IN THE STUDIO BUILDING

Elephant lab

Elephant lab is the name of the artists’ residency programme of Elephant Art. Elephant lab artists are encouraged to collaborate, experiment and innovate. They activate the Elephant motto Life through Art. Unlike other programmes of this nature there is no cost to the artist at any stage.

Any practising artist can apply to Elephant lab via the website and there is a quarterly review for residencies that will take place three months ahead. Review and interview are carried out by the Elephant team and we host approximately 10 Elephant lab residencies a year.

Artists use the time, space and materials Elephant lab offers to develop their practice, they get technical support from the I&D lab and professional support from the Elephant team. Towards the end of their residency each artist is interviewed by the Elephant magazine editorial team and showcased on Elephant.art. An Open Studio event at the very end gives the artists a chance to exhibit to employees and the public the work they have made.
Additionally, Louise Benson from editorial, runs a sketchbook project with the artists that is currently on display in the Colart Showroom.

Some recent Elephant lab artists…and click here to see more

TFAC residencies

Studio Building Residencies are a key part of the global TFAC programme. TFAC UK offer them to London art schools and this year we host the Royal College, Slade, Central St Martins, Wimbledon, City and guilds and Camberwell. They are nominated by the university and we take second year students right up to post grad. Students get a great space and materials to develop their own work plus professional support from Mathew Gibson and technical advice from Mark Cann.
TFAC markets work with high profile Art Schools in their countries and send students to London for a month. We provide them with accommodation, a mentor to help out in London plus the studio space and materials. This year we will host China, Benelux, Italy, France and exciting new projects through the International team with Russia and Turkey.

The Brand Residencies

Brand residencies are ad hoc residencies used to help promote new products. At Head Office, we have had some Liquitex residencies in the past and currently have one for Winsor & Newton where artist Kyle Gallup is using the new cadmium-free range.