paula roush
based in London
paularoush@gmail.com
https://www.msdm.org.uk/
+44 7711483319
https://www.instagram.com/mobile_strategies/
CV
[download PDF here]
BIO
paula is an artist-curator and researcher, born in Lisbon and based in London. Her practice centres on place-based research and participatory education, with an interest in the more-than-human Anthropocene. She is the founder of the msdm (mobile strategies of display & mediation) collective, a platform for exploring the fluid intersections of art, curatorial, and publishing practices. Through her work, she aims to develop narratives of transitional design that promote a more equitable and ecologically just future.
EDUCATION
paula holds an Honorary PhD as an Art Work from South London Gallery / Contemporary Art Society Fund Award (UK) and a Master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapies from Emporia State University / Fulbright Research Award (US). She also has a BA in Social Psychology from Lisbon University. Paula has participated in artist residencies at Mira Galerias (Chão Terra Pessoas project), Bauhaus Kolleg (Event City project), the Arab Image Foundation (Photobook publishing from the archives), and Frans Masereel Centrum (Memory of Stones project).
EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION SOLO AND GROUP)
Follow Y/Our River (Books of Water), Totally Thames Festival and Copeland Gallery, London), 2024
'paula' & Work: A Document on the Machinic Enslavement in Academic Capitalism 2023-24, Borough Road Gallery London 2024
Publishing as Watery Strategy - The work of paula roush and msdm publications, IMAGO gallery Lisbon 2024
The Library of Artistic Print on Demand, German National Library, Leipzig (Nov. 2023 - Feb. 2024) and Museum VILLA STUCK, Munich (May - Sept. 2024)
"A title that brings us together”, msdm House-Studio-Gallery Woolwich, 2023
Follow Y/Our River Lea-minal Edges: Borough Road Gallery, London, 2023
Liquid Memory, Water Museum, Lisbon 2023
liquid memories ~to read with water, 2022, Borough Road Gallery London 2022
Museums Without Walls, Isabel Bader Centre Kingston CA, 2022
BOX. UNBOX, Godsbanen Arts Centre Aarhus Denmark 2022
Memoria Liquida, Casa da Imagem Vila Nova de Gaia, 2021
Trabalhos Liquidos & Jerricans, Cozinha Gallery, Porto 2021
Paintball Field, Barreiro Photography Month, The Red Gallery, Barreiro 2019
INFINITE MULTIPLE Carrol Fletcher (Sept 2017) and Arebite Galleries (April 2018) London UK
UNBOUND, Herbert Read Gallery, University for the Creative Arts Canterbury UK, 2017
Torn Folded Curled, Makan Project Space, Beirut 2015
Queer Paper Gardens, Museu da Electricidade Lisbon 2013
Dreaming Through –On & Into the Exotic, Contemporary Arts and Learning London, 2013
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
ə/uh/-books project space for material publishing, London South Bank University, 2016-2018
The Book Dispersed, publishing as relational experience
Casa das Artes +Sput&Nik the Window, Porto, 2017
Faz Tu Mesmx- Arte por Instrução/ DIY: Art by Instruction
Sput&Nik The Window Gallery, Porto, 2016
Hetero q.b.,international video programme
Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea, Lisboa, 2013
Off the s{h}elf: the self and subjectivity in the artist’s book, Stockwell Studios, London
New Territories/Novos Territórios
Pavilhão 28 Espaço Expositivo do Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Lisbon, 2009
Mundos Locais Local Worlds
Centro Cultural de Lagos, 2008
2006
Welcome Goodbye Adeus Obrigada- Journeys, dislocations and imaginary nations
Blue Elephant Theatre & Little Portugal, UK 2006
POSTSCRIPT (Part One): Portuguese Live Art in the Age of Scripted Reality
[SPACE] London, 2004
PUBLICATIONS
- Follow Y/Our River Lea-minal Edges: Prompts for Transitory States of Being, Artist's Book, 2023: Documents the "Follow Y/Our River" project, highlighting ecological awareness
and personal development through artistic inquiry.
ISBN: 978-1-7390996-4-0
- Follow Y/Our River: A Manual for Deep
Mapping in the Lower Lea Valley, Educational
Manual, 2023: Guides a place-based teaching
approach, utilizing deep mapping techniques
for exploring watery landscapes.
ISBN: 978-1-7390996-5-7
- Liquid Memories~ to read with water,
Artist's Book, 2022: Accompanies the
"LiquidMemories" project, exploring water's
interconnection with memory and narrative
through participatory art practices.
ISBN: 978-0-9553793-5-2
-WATER PRINTS, 2022
An archive of experiments testing the interaction of prints with water, and varied painting and paper folding techniques.
ISBN: 9781739099602
AWARDS
The Instituto Camões and the Embassy of Portugal in Denmark award for BOX. UNBOX exhibition at Godsbaden Aarhus
London Erasmus grant recipient in collaboration with Victoria Browne, Publishing Studio / KHiO Oslo Art Academy
Bus-Spotting + A Story (photobook) short-listed for Photo-Text Award, Arles Rencontres de Photographie
School of Arts & Creative Industries grant recipient, Research for monograph on photobook publishing Arab Image Foundation residency in the photographic archives,
Beirut PlanBEY Makan residency in the publishing studio, Beirut
Nothing To Undo (photobook) First Prize: The Sheffield International Artist’s Book Prize
Nothing To Undo (photobook) shortlisted for The Kassel Fotobook Festival
Centre for Media & Culture Research (LSBU) grant recipient to research printmaking technologies integrated into photobook publishing at the Thames Barrier Print Studio
ADXISTUR grant recipient to develop participatory project Xistorias, Gois Schist Villages, Pt
Gulbenkian UK/ Instituto Camoes, grant recipient to curate ‘Welcome Goodbye Adeus Obrigada’
SPACE Commission to develop participatory project Bowville, Bow road pop-up space,
London Arts Council England, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Southwark Council, South East London Community Foundation and Community Renewal Unit grants, grants recipient in collaboration with Coleman Project Space to develop participatory project SOS OK Emergency Biscuit, London
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Founder & Lead Artist | msdm (mobile
strategies of display & mediation) | 2004 -
Present
- Spearheads a collective platform at the
nexus of art, curatorial and
publishing practices, focusing on contemporary
social and ecological issues.
- Directs projects utilizing mobile strategies,
transforming vacant sites into spaces of
artistic and cultural exchange.
- Fosters interdisciplinary collaborations,
integrating architectural methodology, digital
technology, and relational aesthetics.
Senior Lecturer | London South Bank
University, School of Arts and Creative
Industries | 2006 - Present
- Develops and delivers curriculum on
contemporary art practices.
- Supervises innovative student research
projects, emphasizing community
engagement.
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
- Expert in place-based research, decolonial,
and hydrofeminist methodologies.
- Proficient in artistic mediums, digital
technologies (including Adobe Creative Suite,
digital and analog photography, generative AI
and web design tools).
- Skilled in curatorial practices, bookwork
design, and publishing.
- Experienced in community engagement and
interdisciplinary collaboration.
LANGUAGES
- Portuguese: Native;
- English: Fluent
CIENCIAVITAE: 8614-0839-E574
ORCID: 0009-0005-0048-146X
contact
paula roush ::: paularoush@gmail.com
msdm studio ::: msdm@msdm.org.uk