Teesside University appoints Professors to join innovative MIMA School of Art & Design

Following a move earlier in the year which saw Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA) lead Teesside University’s Fine Art provision, with Design courses joining the portfolio over the summer, MIMA School of Art & Design has appointed two professorial roles to add new expertise to the courses.

Curator Sarah Perks and artist Mikhail Karikis will take up two new professorial roles this December. Karikis whose practice has received international acclaim, brings expertise in art and architecture, social justice and politics with a track-record in socially engaged arts.

Karikis studied for a doctorate at Slade School of Art, taught at University College London, Central Saint Martins, Royal College of Art and Universities of Middlesex and Brighton. Karikis’ work has been presented in major art galleries across the UK such as Nottingham Contemporary, South London Gallery and Tate (Modern, Britain and St. Ives) as well as in international museums and festivals such as The 54th Venice Biennial, 3rd Thessaloniki Biennial, Manifesta 9 and The 19th Sydney Biennial. Karikis’ survey exhibition currently on show at MIMA, ‘For Many Voices’, includes work made across ten years and amplifies the voices of those who may be unheard, unseen and structurally neglected.

Perks, a curator working globally in visual art, film and performance and leader in the field of contemporary arts. Exhibiting internationally and within the UK, Perks’ specialisms lie in participation, performance and moving image. Interests are embedded in the relationship between artists, education and the art gallery as a collaborative, cross-disciplinary space, with a focus on the intersection between participation, film and performance.

Perks’ experience includes the role of Artistic Director at HOME Manchester, a joint Professorial post with Manchester School of Art and Programme and Engagement Director at Greater Manchester Arts Centre (Cornerhouse). Perks has curated over 30 exhibitions and commissions with artists including Sophia Al-Maria, Rosa Barba, Judith Barry, Phil Collins, Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, Stanya Kahn, Lauren Halsey, Louis Henderson, Moon Kyungwon & Jeon Joonho, Rachel Maclean, Noor Afshan Mirza and Brad Butler, Clifford Owens, James Richards, Rashid Rana, Yoshua Okon, and David Shrigley.

Recent group exhibitions include The Return of Memory exploring post-Soviet ‘New East’ (with Subkultura publication), La Movida responding to 40 years since the first elections in Spain (with new fiction publication Dark Habits), Imitation of Life: Race and Melodrama in the 21st Century (including new publication Fear Eats the Soul) and The heart is deceitful above all things (including new publication Transactions of Desire), the last two with regular collaborator Dr Omar Kholeif (Sharjah Biennial 2019). Co-edited with Erika Balsom and Lucy Reynolds, Perks’ ‘Artists’ Moving Image in Britain Since 1989’ was supported by Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art and published by Yale University Press in September this year.

MIMA Director and Dean of MIMA School of Art & Design, Laura Sillars said: 'Mikhail Karikis and Sarah Perks emerged from an exceptionally strong field of academics. Individually, their work exemplifies the vision of the MIMA School of Art & Design to be a place which has a foothold in the world of art and academia.

'Both of their research and practice centre around issues such as participation which supports MIMA School of Art & Design’s commitment to a civic mission. Their contribution to our institutional community will be significant. I am looking forward to collaborating with Mikhail and Sarah and with them creatively and intellectually growing the MIMA School of Art & Design.'

Professor Simon Hodgson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Teesside University, added: 'We are delighted to confirm these two exciting appointments as part of our recent professorial recruitment round. The talents and experience brought to the MIMA School of Art & Design by such globally recognised leaders in their fields will benefit our students immensely and further enhance their future prospects.'

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