Jill Piercy

Cefndir - Background

Jill Piercy is a curator, writer and consultant. She has for many years specialised in working with contemporary art and crafts in Wales:

I have curated exhibitions for many organistions and galleries in Wales, Europe and the USA. For six years, I was Arts and Crafts Officer for the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and most recently have worked as Exhibitions Curator at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on two occasions. I have been involved in researching many arts and craftspeople for publications and catalogue essays for galleries. For a number of years I worked on the biography (published 2013) of the artist and writer, Brenda Chamberlain, who came from Bangor and lived for nine years in Llanllechid near Bethesda.

Originally from Buckley in North East Wales, I am familiar with the industrial heritage of that area in the form of potteries, brickworks and coal mining. Many of the male members of my family were involved in the potteries and related industries but as yet I have not traced the involvement of the female side of the family. It intrigues me.

As curator, I am excited by the creative outcomes of Merched Chwarel's initial research. Their exploration into the female presence in industrial Wales resonates with me and my own background. Although the four artists work in very different ways, they do demonstrate a clearly defined shared vision of what they want to acheive.

I see my role as curator as helping the artists to bring their many and multi-layered ideas into a clearly focused and accessible series of exhibitions. I really look forward to the process of collaborating with the group to fulfil this aim