_ Holestar

1976. Plymouth, England.

My artistic intention is to blur the boundaries between both the avant-garde and mass entertainment, pop culture and the underground. Indulging those who worship at the altar of contemporary art and at the bowels of mass media.

Following time in the British Army, I realised my future lay as a visual artist. After studying photography to degree level and moving to Vienna, I developed my performative Drag Goddess or Tranny with a Fanny character.

Influenced by the Blake Edwards film Victor/Victoria and Gilbert and Georges notion of living sculpture, I adopt the guise of a drag queen in a genetically female body, reclaiming over exaggerated codes of femininity to the female form. This guise has been performed extensively in the UK, Austria, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Turkey and New York.

Upon returning to the UK, I undertook a Fine Art Masters degree at Central St Martins. Previous works investigate sexuality and gender with more recent projects exploring personal history and biography utilising video, performance, photography and installation.

Artistic Education
2006 - 2008 MA Fine Art
Central St Martins School of Art, London
Thesis - The Insanity of Modern Celebrity

1998 - 2001 BA (Hons) Photography
BIPP Professional Qualifying Exam
Blackpool & the Fylde College, Blackpool
Dissertation - Art and Pornography

1997 - 1998 ND Photography (Design)
Hereford College of Art & Design, Hereford

Exhibitions
2008 MA Fine Art Central St Martins - London, UK
2008 The Residence - London, UK
2008 This Constant Cracking of the Surface - The Bargehouse - London, UK
2008 Lift and Separate - V&A Museum - London, UK
2007 Left of Centre - Circus - London, UK
2006 1000 Degrees North - London, UK (and on tour internationally)
2004 It Aint What You Do Its the Way That You Do It (Solo Show) - Vienna, AT
2002 Replica - Vienna, AT
2001 Curwen Gallery - London, UK
2001 Castlefield Gallery - Manchester, UK

Curator - Gazelland Magazine Skin (2007) and Art (2008) London launch events

Performance
V&A Museum - London, UK
ICA - London, UK
Glastonbury and Lovebox Festivals - UK
Vienna Life Ball - Vienna, AT
Kashpoint - London, UK
Studio Neon - London, UK
Merlin - Budapest, HU
SMart ...