Artist Statement

Megan Willow Hack is an environmentally engaged, practice-based artist, currently studying a Masters in Art & Ecology at Goldsmiths, University of London. Her work is an exploration of the natural, social and spiritual ecologies of the South Downs, Epping Forest and London landscapes; rooted in community engagement and site-specific installations with the more-than-human beings that inhabit those environments. Her practice explores the material enmeshments we have with the Lands we are a part of, with current research focusing on the atmosphere as this sensorial, connective medium. Research undertaken at Goldsmiths considers breath/ respiration as the exchange which binds the internal with the external worlds, with both healing and toxic powers. Hack works outdoors combining ancient pigment process and the weather to create painted installations made from fine particulates (of soot, spore, pollution) extracted from the airs which are breathed in, activating the invisible terrain we are a part of.

Megan Willow Hack has been funded by the British Council, Crafts Council, Cass Art and World Crafts Council Europe to run eco-workshops in London, Brighton and the Venice Biennale 2023. She was awarded the Mawddach Graduate Prize, Venice Biennale Fellowship and Phoenix Arts Space X Cass Art Studio Award in 2023 for these engagements. Hack has exhibited in galleries across Brighton and London and will be displaying work this summer 2025 as part of the Goldsmith’s Art & Ecology showcase.

CV

Education and Qualifications

2024-25 (Current) MA, Art & Ecology, Goldsmiths College, University of London

2019- 22 BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting, University of Brighton

2018- 19 Foundation Diploma, Central St Martins, University of the Arts London

Solo Exhibitions

The Sun Trail, Neighbourhood Café, Brighthelm Centre, Black Mocha, Oseta, No.16, The Green Dragon, Bread & Milk, Brighton 2022

Group Exhibitions

Plant Room: Phoenix Art X Cass Art Studio Award Show, Phoenix Art Space, Brighton, 2023

Inscapes, Phoenix Art Space Gallery, Brighton, 2023

The Hanging Garden, Coachworks, Brighton, 2022

University of Brighton Graduate Show, Grand Parade, Brighton 2022

Mother, Phoenix Art Space Gallery, Brighton, 2022

The Wild Collective, Omved Gardens, Highgate London, 2022

Kenopsia, Online, 2020

Transience, One Church, Brighton 2019

Blu-tac No Nails, ZMMA Gallery, Islington London 2019

Central St Martins Graduate Show, Lethaby Gallery, Kings Cross London, 2019

Arts and Sculpture Trail, Waterlow Park, Highgate London 2019

Art Show, City and Islington, London 2017

Being Human, Charles Russel Speechyls Gallery, London 2016

Art Show, St Andrews Church, London, 2016

Fellowships and Residencies

Mawddach Residency, Wales 2023

Venice Biennale Fellowship, Italy 2023

Phoenix Art Space X Cass Arts Studio Residency, Brighton 2022/2023

Competitions, Prizes and Awards

Artist Fellow, representing the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, 2023

Phoenix Art Space X Cass Art Studio Artist 2022/23

Mawddach Graduate Award, 2022

Crafts Council Workshop Fund, 2018

CRS Langlards & Bell, 2015

Jack Petchey Arts Prize, 2012

Talks

Venice Biennale Fellowship Talk, Online 2024

Phoenix Arts Studio talk and tour, University of Brighton 2022

Creative Careers Panel, Goldsmiths University, London 2021

Prospective Student Talks, University of Brighton, 2019-21

Make Your Future, Selected Speaker, Thomas Tallis, London, 2021

HPQ and Creative Higher Education Talk, 2017

Publications

Mawddach Residency Graduate Award, 2023

Cass Art Interview, 2023

University of Brighton Winners, 2022

Online Degree Show, 2022

University of Brighton Graduates, 2022

Omved Gardens, Chelsea Fringe Festival, 2022

Aeonian Magazine Issue no.4, 2019

YCC Crafts Council Blog, 2019

Workshops and Teaching

Making and Sharing Event with Megan Hack, Crafts Council Gallery, London, 2023

Materiality Workshop, Venice Biennale, 2023

Eco-Weaving Workshop, Brighthelm Community Centre, Brighton, 2022

Natural Pigments Workshop, Online, 2021

Natural Chemigraph and Solargraphy Workshop, Crafts Council Gallery, Brighton, 2021

Art Workshop With Jasmine Pradissitto, St Mary’s Youth Club, London, 2021

Art Teacher Assistant, Leytonstone Secondary School, London, 2020

XR Block Printing Workshop, Art Republic Gallery, Brighton, 2019

Series of Art Workshops with LIFT Youth Group, Platform, London, 2019

Misshapes: The Making of Tatty Devine exhibition workshop, Lethaby Gallery, London, 2019

AI: More than Human Exhibition, Man Vs Machine digital embroidery exhibition Workshop, The Barbican, London, 2018

Hey Clay! Workshop, William Morris Gallery, London, 2018

Mozilla Festival with Batch.Works, Make:Shift:Do, Ravensbourne University, London, 2016

Painting Workshop, Eastway Care Home, London, 2016

Craft Workshop, Spinney Care Home, London, 2016


self portrait

Contact

Contact

Photograph by Michael King 2022

“Air is/puts us in relation… circulating and binding the outside to the inside of our bodies” - đ˜ˆđ˜Šđ˜łđ˜°đ˜±đ˜°đ˜­đ˜Ș𝘮, 𝘕𝘩𝘳𝘩𝘱 đ˜Šđ˜ąđ˜­đ˜·đ˜Ș𝘭𝘭𝘰 [ @nereacalvillo ] Some images from our show at Goldsmiths @ma_art_and_ecology last mo
“Air is/puts us in relation… circulating and binding the outside to the inside of our bodies” - đ˜ˆđ˜Šđ˜łđ˜°đ˜±đ˜°đ˜­đ˜Ș𝘮, 𝘕𝘩𝘳𝘩𝘱 đ˜Šđ˜ąđ˜­đ˜·đ˜Ș𝘭𝘭𝘰 [ @nereacalvillo ] Some images from our show at Goldsmiths @ma_art_and_ecology last month. Another term I am so lucky to be surrounded by the inspiring people there! This series continues my research on the toxic air of London bound up in breaths, pollen, spores; air as a medium of interconnection & accountability… 𝘗𝘔2.5 đ˜•đ˜°đ˜Žđ˜”đ˜łđ˜Ș𝘭 𝘗𝘳đ˜Șđ˜Żđ˜”đ˜Ž & đ˜”đ˜Șđ˜Žđ˜Žđ˜¶đ˜Šđ˜Ž đ˜—đ˜­đ˜¶đ˜łđ˜ąđ˜­đ˜Șđ˜”đ˜ș 𝘰𝘧 𝘱đ˜Ș𝘳𝘮 Glass Tubes with Particulate Matter collected from air in Leyton East London, Birch tree extract from Epping Forest, Activated carbon, Epping Forest oak tree ink, 2025 𝘌đ˜čđ˜€đ˜©đ˜ąđ˜Żđ˜šđ˜Šđ˜Ž: 𝘈𝘯 𝘜𝘳𝘣𝘱𝘯 đ˜đ˜°đ˜łđ˜Šđ˜Žđ˜”, đ˜±đ˜Šđ˜Żđ˜”đ˜ąđ˜±đ˜”đ˜șđ˜€đ˜© Epping Forest Oak Gall ink & Birch tree pigment on canvas, PM2.5 - 13.5g/m3 128cm x 548 cm, 2025
Recent work shown with @ma_art_and_ecology as part of 𝘈 đ˜™đ˜Šđ˜Žđ˜±đ˜°đ˜Żđ˜Žđ˜Š đ˜”đ˜° đ˜‹đ˜Šđ˜ąđ˜„ đ˜Œđ˜Żđ˜„đ˜Ž: đ˜ˆđ˜­đ˜”đ˜Šđ˜łđ˜Żđ˜ąđ˜”đ˜Șđ˜·đ˜Š 𝘊𝘱𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯 đ˜ˆđ˜§đ˜”đ˜Šđ˜łđ˜­đ˜Șđ˜·đ˜Šđ˜Ž. This first painting was suspended from the ceiling and is made from activated charcoal which
Recent work shown with @ma_art_and_ecology as part of 𝘈 đ˜™đ˜Šđ˜Žđ˜±đ˜°đ˜Żđ˜Žđ˜Š đ˜”đ˜° đ˜‹đ˜Šđ˜ąđ˜„ đ˜Œđ˜Żđ˜„đ˜Ž: đ˜ˆđ˜­đ˜”đ˜Šđ˜łđ˜Żđ˜ąđ˜”đ˜Șđ˜·đ˜Š 𝘊𝘱𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯 đ˜ˆđ˜§đ˜”đ˜Šđ˜łđ˜­đ˜Șđ˜·đ˜Šđ˜Ž. This first painting was suspended from the ceiling and is made from activated charcoal which purifies air. As air was pulled through the frame it becomes functional, and detoxifies the air in the space. To the right (last image) is a smaller piece, with concentrated particulate matter extracted from the air in East London, and made into oil paint.
This piece is part of my recent work shown with @ma_art_and_ecology as part of 𝘈 đ˜™đ˜Šđ˜Žđ˜±đ˜°đ˜Żđ˜Žđ˜Š đ˜”đ˜° đ˜‹đ˜Šđ˜ąđ˜„ đ˜Œđ˜Żđ˜„đ˜Ž: đ˜ˆđ˜­đ˜”đ˜Šđ˜łđ˜Żđ˜ąđ˜”đ˜Șđ˜·đ˜Š 𝘊𝘱𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯 đ˜ˆđ˜§đ˜”đ˜Šđ˜łđ˜­đ˜Șđ˜·đ˜Šđ˜Ž. It uses oak tree galls from Epping Forest, East London and considers
This piece is part of my recent work shown with @ma_art_and_ecology as part of 𝘈 đ˜™đ˜Šđ˜Žđ˜±đ˜°đ˜Żđ˜Žđ˜Š đ˜”đ˜° đ˜‹đ˜Šđ˜ąđ˜„ đ˜Œđ˜Żđ˜„đ˜Ž: đ˜ˆđ˜­đ˜”đ˜Šđ˜łđ˜Żđ˜ąđ˜”đ˜Șđ˜·đ˜Š 𝘊𝘱𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯 đ˜ˆđ˜§đ˜”đ˜Šđ˜łđ˜­đ˜Șđ˜·đ˜Šđ˜Ž. It uses oak tree galls from Epping Forest, East London and considers our interconnections & need for care towards urban trees as filters for toxic atmospheres. đ˜—đ˜ąđ˜łđ˜”đ˜Șđ˜€đ˜¶đ˜­đ˜ąđ˜”đ˜Š đ˜”đ˜ąđ˜”đ˜Šđ˜ł Oak gall dye on canvas, 128cm x 128cm Mater//matter//mother//carbon
đ–Šč first few months of @ma_art_and_ecology full of care, collaboration and tenderness through the autumn months with this group. very grateful for this time and knowledge exchange đ–Šč Images đ–Šč Walthamstow Wetlands đ–Šč Deptford Creek đ–Šč Experimental L
đ–Šč first few months of @ma_art_and_ecology full of care, collaboration and tenderness through the autumn months with this group. very grateful for this time and knowledge exchange đ–Šč Images đ–Šč Walthamstow Wetlands đ–Šč Deptford Creek đ–Šč Experimental Lab showcase đ–Šč Etching đ–Šč PM2.5 (particulate matter) under the microscope w @ma_art.ecology_lab đ–Šč nettle developed 35mm film đ–Šč oil paint made from sorry,tree & entangled painting đ–Šč Art & Ecology cohort experimental laboratories with @taey.iohe, @matterlurgy_studio, @__silt___ , @farming_with_microbes <3
first few weeks of art &amp; ecology and a return to east london. this series is imbued by the air pollution (particulate matter or pm) of the sites it was made and the trees foraged to make the dyes. thinking about our kinship to the non-human, hea
first few weeks of art & ecology and a return to east london. this series is imbued by the air pollution (particulate matter or pm) of the sites it was made and the trees foraged to make the dyes. thinking about our kinship to the non-human, healing in a toxic environment and who has access to clean air… From Left to Right 48,625* Sweet chestnut dye, cliff chalk, iron, PM 2.5: 13.3um/m’ on canvas. *Present-day (2019) map produced by UCL research for adult premature mortality attributable to exposure of particulate matter (PM2.5) in the UK. Breathe in for 4, Hold for 4, Breathe out for 4, Hold for 4... Acorn dye, gorse dye, Iron, branch, PM 2.5: 4.0m/m* on canvas.
samhain and the dark half of the year are approaching, the green tomatoes are chutney, the vegetables from the summer are roots and branches. as things die to be reborn i am sewing the seeds for a new chapter and have started an MA in Art &amp; Eco
samhain and the dark half of the year are approaching, the green tomatoes are chutney, the vegetables from the summer are roots and branches. as things die to be reborn i am sewing the seeds for a new chapter and have started an MA in Art & Ecology at Goldsmiths, so this page will have more happening đŸŒ±
~ solar dyeing in venice, with finds from the islands, on film ~ for next year biennale fellows i will see you later this eve to discuss dye, materiality and collaboration &lt;3
~ solar dyeing in venice, with finds from the islands, on film ~ for next year biennale fellows i will see you later this eve to discuss dye, materiality and collaboration <3
~ another part of the cosmic egg series~ Cosmic egg #3 Indigo, foraged hawthorn dye and sussex clay on canvas, 82 x 127cm photographed by @bgmfoto2 and displayed in Phoenix Art Space @delphiangallery | #delphianopencall
~ another part of the cosmic egg series~ Cosmic egg #3 Indigo, foraged hawthorn dye and sussex clay on canvas, 82 x 127cm photographed by @bgmfoto2 and displayed in Phoenix Art Space @delphiangallery | #delphianopencall
~ cosmic foetus ~ Indigo and hawthorn dye on canvas 82 x 127 cm captured by the lovely @stax_of_pentax on film &lt;3 @delphiangallery | #delphianopencall
~ cosmic foetus ~ Indigo and hawthorn dye on canvas 82 x 127 cm captured by the lovely @stax_of_pentax on film <3 @delphiangallery | #delphianopencall
꩜ ever so slowly re-emerging ꩜ Cosmic Egg #1 Clay, indigo dye and root ball on canvas 38 x 81 cm 2023 Currently on display @studio___baby
꩜ ever so slowly re-emerging ꩜ Cosmic Egg #1 Clay, indigo dye and root ball on canvas 38 x 81 cm 2023 Currently on display @studio___baby
this week i had the loveliest time sharing my venice biennale fellowship experience and running a workshop with oak dyes from Epping Forest. after looking at the history of iron gall ink and how it has been used since the medieval times to record documents, music and drawings, i created an adapted recipe. we used three dyes, oak bark, acorn ink and gall ink using an iron modifier to darken the colours. thank you to everyone who participated and the lovely crafts council for having me <3 @young.craft.citizens | @craftscouncil | @wcceurope
i’ll be sharing my venice biennale fellowship experience with a natural dye workshop at the Crafts Council Gallery next week! If you are a YCC member, signup and i’ll see ya there <3 so grateful for this opportunity and I hope to share some of this magic â­ïžđŸŒ± with big thank yous to @labiennale | @britishcouncil | @young.craft.citizens | @craftscouncil | @wcceurope for all your support
&ldquo;Air is/puts us in relation&hellip; circulating and binding the outside to the inside of our bodies&rdquo; - đ˜ˆđ˜Šđ˜łđ˜°đ˜±đ˜°đ˜­đ˜Ș𝘮, 𝘕𝘩𝘳𝘩𝘱 đ˜Šđ˜ąđ˜­đ˜·đ˜Ș𝘭𝘭𝘰 [ @nereacalvillo ] Some images from our show at Goldsmiths @ma_art_and_ecology last mo Recent work shown with @ma_art_and_ecology as part of 𝘈 đ˜™đ˜Šđ˜Žđ˜±đ˜°đ˜Żđ˜Žđ˜Š đ˜”đ˜° đ˜‹đ˜Šđ˜ąđ˜„ đ˜Œđ˜Żđ˜„đ˜Ž: đ˜ˆđ˜­đ˜”đ˜Šđ˜łđ˜Żđ˜ąđ˜”đ˜Șđ˜·đ˜Š 𝘊𝘱𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯 đ˜ˆđ˜§đ˜”đ˜Šđ˜łđ˜­đ˜Șđ˜·đ˜Šđ˜Ž. This first painting was suspended from the ceiling and is made from activated charcoal which This piece is part of my recent work shown with @ma_art_and_ecology as part of 𝘈 đ˜™đ˜Šđ˜Žđ˜±đ˜°đ˜Żđ˜Žđ˜Š đ˜”đ˜° đ˜‹đ˜Šđ˜ąđ˜„ đ˜Œđ˜Żđ˜„đ˜Ž: đ˜ˆđ˜­đ˜”đ˜Šđ˜łđ˜Żđ˜ąđ˜”đ˜Șđ˜·đ˜Š 𝘊𝘱𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯 đ˜ˆđ˜§đ˜”đ˜Šđ˜łđ˜­đ˜Șđ˜·đ˜Šđ˜Ž. It uses oak tree galls from Epping Forest, East London and considers đ–Šč first few months of @ma_art_and_ecology full of care, collaboration and tenderness through the autumn months with this group. very grateful for this time and knowledge exchange đ–Šč Images đ–Šč Walthamstow Wetlands đ–Šč Deptford Creek đ–Šč Experimental L first few weeks of art &amp; ecology and a return to east london. this series is imbued by the air pollution (particulate matter or pm) of the sites it was made and the trees foraged to make the dyes. thinking about our kinship to the non-human, hea samhain and the dark half of the year are approaching, the green tomatoes are chutney, the vegetables from the summer are roots and branches. as things die to be reborn i am sewing the seeds for a new chapter and have started an MA in Art &amp; Eco ~ solar dyeing in venice, with finds from the islands, on film ~ for next year biennale fellows i will see you later this eve to discuss dye, materiality and collaboration &lt;3 ~ another part of the cosmic egg series~ Cosmic egg #3 Indigo, foraged hawthorn dye and sussex clay on canvas, 82 x 127cm photographed by @bgmfoto2 and displayed in Phoenix Art Space @delphiangallery | #delphianopencall ~ cosmic foetus ~ Indigo and hawthorn dye on canvas 82 x 127 cm captured by the lovely @stax_of_pentax on film &lt;3 @delphiangallery | #delphianopencall ꩜ ever so slowly re-emerging ꩜ Cosmic Egg #1 Clay, indigo dye and root ball on canvas 38 x 81 cm 2023 Currently on display @studio___baby
this week i had the loveliest time sharing my venice biennale fellowship experience and running a workshop with oak dyes from Epping Forest. after looking at the history of iron gall ink and how it has been used since the medieval times to record do
i&rsquo;ll be sharing my venice biennale fellowship experience with a natural dye workshop at the Crafts Council Gallery next week! If you are a YCC member, signup and i&rsquo;ll see ya there &lt;3 so grateful for this opportunity and I hope to shar

Instagram: @megan.w.hack

Email: meganwillow.art@gmail.com

Instagram: @willowlines

Email: willowlinestattoo@gmail.com