Jess Holdengarde is University of Stirling’s new artist in residence

The University of Stirling has appointed Jess Holdengarde as its artist in residence for the 2025-26 academic year.

The artist, originally from South Africa and now based between the Isle of Lewis and Glasgow, uses lens-based processes to explore responses to environmental, social and economic crises. Working with camera, body, light and organic matter, Jess's current practice creates analogue that reflect its intimacy.

Fittingly, they join the University of Stirling Art Collection during its themed year of Art & Science, in which exhibitions will explore the shared community of practice between artistic and scientific research. Jess will work with researchers across the University of Stirling with a particular focus on research about and inspired by water.

Innovative approach to sustainability

The University of Stirling Art Collection works to make art and culture a part of daily life for staff, students, and visitors through exhibitions, events, talks, and workshops.  Each year our exhibitions and public programme are informed by a University research theme.  In the 2025/6 academic year that theme will be looking at the relationship between Art & Science.

Sarah Bromage, Head of Collections at the University of Stirling, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jess as our artist in residence during our year of Art & Science. Their innovative approach to sustainability in photographic practice perfectly embodies the symbiosis of how scientific processes and artistic thinking can create solutions and deepen our understanding of our environment.”

Jess said: "I am very grateful to have the opportunity to spend the year ahead working with and alongside the innovative, thoughtful, and environmentally focused researchers at the University of Stirling. I look forward to connecting and collaborating with them soon."

More about the Art Collection is at http://www.stir.ac.uk/about/art-collection

Find out more about Jess here: https://www.jessholdengarde.com/ 

Some of the works from Jess Holdengarde's Glimmer exhibition in Edinburgh, 2024. Photo: Stills Centre for Photography.