Andrew Hancock is a London-based artist, curator and cultural programmer. After graduating with a B.A. in Art History at Manchester University, he has established a parallel approach in his development both as an artist and as a professional within the wider art economy – and draws on this experience in his workings, enabling himself to create whilst engaging critically within the wider cultural sphere.
As a matter of research into the techniques of fine artists and the internal mechanisms of the 'art world', the artist worked at prestigious art institutions both in Manchester and London, including: Manchester City Art Gallery; Christie's Auctioneers; White Cube; The Royal Academy of Arts; Frieze Art Fair; London Art Fair; and Saatchi Gallery.
As an artist, Hancock mixes a revolving series of works both in static medium and in the conceptual realm. Paintings, documentation, time-based performance, photography and installation works sit within the context of wider conceptual themes under investigation, as he explores diverse subjects from aesthetics to economics, politics to society and the senses, with recurrent themes of the spiritual, corporeal, material and relational. His practice is constantly evolving – heavily steeped in the mythologies of artistic practice and the struggle with the specificities of key art materials.
In recent years, Hancock has exhibited work in the UK and internationally, with major highlights including: Lloyds Club ('New British 2013'), the Chelsea Arts Club ('Things that Breathe' and 'The Other Side'), the stunning historic Wilton's Music Hall and a 6-week solo show 'Flaming Hearts' at Maestro Arts (London); 'Art In Real Time (Reprise)', StandArte Galleria (Madrid); and two group exhibitions, 'Start in Art' and 'The Loft' at K35, one of Moscow's most exciting contemporary art spaces.
In 2012, Hancock was exhibited as part of a new collection, commissioned through the Cultural Olympiad programme for London 2012 Olympics and first exhibited at London's prestigious Barbican. The exhibition now hangs permanently in the Chinese National Collection in Beijing. 'The Gallery', an installation which opened the 2014 Chinese Visual Festival at the Anatomy Museum in King's College, London was recently toured to China.
The artist has subsequently been granted several residencies in private art spaces in Covent Garden and has been elected as an artist-member at the historic Chelsea Arts Club and the Society of Staffordshire Artists. The artist inhabits studios in London and Malta and is currently exhibited alongside artists such as Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, The Chapman Brothers, Tracey Emin, Roy Lichtenstein, Gilbert & George and Jean Paul Basquiat at the House of St Barnabas in central London and is part of other permanent collections internationally.
In 2013 Andrew Hancock co-founded the cultural events company 'ARTNAKED' and in 2014 became Art Director of private Members club, 'Library', situated in Covent Garden.
Major upcoming projects include participation in the 6th Moscow Biennale, 2015, in which he will present a multimedia installation work entitled 'Oracle' at the National Centre for Contemporary Arts (NCCA).
