MILOU STELLA
I’m currently diving deep into the depth of our collective understanding of reproduction, not only as a cultural, biological and social phenomenon but also as process. I’m interested in queer methodologies, Donna Haraway’s concept of ‘oddkin’, Glitch Feminism, Joan Jonas, and Xenofeminism among many others.
My eclectic and expansive interest in making work is an invitation to question societal norms and explore topics such as desire, kinship, and family. Often drawing from personal experience, I have a diaristic approach as part of my process. I use drawing, textiles, sound clips, field recordings, and personal texts as starting points for creative experiments that include installations, sculptures, participation, conversations and devising techniques to engage with people around me.
I’d describe my work as often a hybrid searching for expressions that create fluid spaces and blurs obsolete categorisations, celebrating expansive ways of seeing and being in the world.
My practice is interdisciplinary. I draw, write, make, research, sew, lead workshops, perform and learn.
I'm a recent associate artist at Open School East. Our group show We Danced Until There Was Nothing Left was curated by Maggie Matíc (Studio Voltaire) where I shared my audiovisual installation Incubator for Anothertime. I also recently led an event at Turner Contemporary (Margate) titled: Vulvas that Bite and Other Creatures in conversation with artist Flora Bradwell.
My work has also been featured on Netil Radio, and as part of Lucy Orta Traces: Stories of Migration, Nunnery Gallery (Bow, London), and is available for sale through Felstead art Gallery (Hackney Wick). I have years of experience working within socially engaged community projects, often sharing my textiles skills as part of the offering. I was the main visual artist of The Molly’s Masquerade (2020-21) in partnership with St Margaret’s House and Heads Bodies Legs Theatre (Arts Council England, Heritage Fund UK), a year long queer community and participatory project where I contributed a textile installation exploring the intersectionality of the lives of 18th century London queer pioneers. I also co-led the R&D Imagi-Nation.png exploring the radical meaning of ‘care’ through electronic music and performance with theatre maker and Japanese punk musician Kazuko Hohki and participants from the Carers Centre of Tower Hamlets, using digital technology, online events and improv music techniques to devise the future of the project.
CV
Exhibitions and Participatory Projects
Vulvas that Bite And Other Creatures: in Conversation with artist Flora Bradwell, Turner Contemporary, 25 jun 23
We Danced Until There Was Nothing Left, curated by Maggie Matic, 22-25 Jun 2023, Open School East
Lucy Orta Traces: Stories of Migration, Nunnery Gallery, Bow June 2023
Marking Time, Hypha Studios, 60 Conduit St, Jan 23
From Gardens We Feel Secure,Open School East Open House, Dec 22
In Vitro, Online Screening, St. Margaret's House, Apr 22
The Elusive Good Egg: Open Studio, The Create Place, Apr 22
Traces, Group Exhibition with London College Of Fashion, Nov 2021
Utopia, Eco-feminisms, Group Exhibition Oct 2021
Art 2 Art Chats, 2020
Baba Yaga Collective, 2020 - ongoing
Molly’s Masquerade, 2020 - 21
Creative Resistance Craft Klub, 2020
Embroidery Mental Health Service, 2019
Fall Out Club, 2019
East London Tapestry, 2018-2020
Embroidery Loop meet - ups, 2017 - 2022
Moody Bright Designs - 2017 - present
Witches Of Odd, 2014-15
Selected Performance Based Works
In Vitro, The Create Place, Apr 22
Baba Yaga Collective, 2020 - ongoing
Molly’s Masquerade, 2020 - 21
Fall Out Club, 2019
Embroidery Mental Health Service, 2019
Witches Of Odd, 2014-15
Selected workshops
Mendoza Mania, Red Cross, 2023
Molly's Masquerade, Spoon Dolls (online and in person), 2020-21
Apple and Snakes Festival, 2020
Hackney Services Rehab, 2019
SCT, Choices Recovery community, 2019
Embroidery for Wellbeing, St. Margaret’s house, Bethnal Green 2017 - ongoing
Red Cross Fundraiser workshop series, 2018
Awards & Residences
Mendoza Mania, Heritage Lottery Fund Project in partnership with St. Margaret's House, 2022-2023
St. Margaret's House Artist in Residence, Jan 2022-Apr 2022
Arts Council R&D Imagi-Nation42.png , 2021
Arts Council Project Grant, 2020
Arts Council Emergency Fund 2020
Heritage Fund Project Grant, 2020
St. Margaret’s House, Facilitator in Residence 2017- current
Fabrications, Facilitator in Residence 2017 - current
Training
Improv Theatre level 1, 2, 3 - Theatre Deli, 2021-22
Mental Health First Aid , 2021
Trans awareness training with Gendered Intelligence, 2020
Sex workers Rights Training with Alex Hetchart of Sex Workers Opera, 2020
Published Work
Dust online magazine, 2020
Meander (poetry Pamphlet), Annexe Press, 2014
Education
Open School East Associate Artist programme, 2022-23
MSt Creative Writing, University of Oxford, 2010-2012
BA Fine Art, Slade School of Art, UCL, 2003-2007