New Head of Art, Architecture and Design joins Leeds Beckett

Lisa joins Leeds Beckett from the University of Huddersfield, where she started in 2008 as Course Leader and Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Art, progressing to Head of the Department of Art and Communication.

Lisa began her career at Leeds Beckett, gaining a BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art in 1997, a Masters degree in Contemporary Fine Art Practice in 2004 and obtaining her PhD in 2010.

Lisa commented: “I studied at Leeds Beckett myself and have always admired the innovative experimental approach to practice that takes place within the School and its position historically within the development of art, architecture and design education in the UK. I am really looking forward to leading the School and building on this success.”

Professor Mohammad Dastbaz, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Environment and Technology at Leeds Beckett, said: “As a practising artist, whose work crosses the disciplines of film, sound, sculpture, installation, photography and digital practices, Dr Lisa Stansbie brings with her a wealth of experience to develop the work of our Leeds School of Arts.

“The School is home to one of the oldest Schools of Architecture in the UK with national and international reputation in Interior Architecture, Graphic Arts and Design, Fine Arts and Landscape Architecture. I am confident that Lisa will be able to make a positive and significant contribution to further development and success of the School.”

Lisa’s recent work focuses on the sport of open water swimming, in particular on the ‘cult’ of channel swimming. Her solo exhibition Nothing Great Is Easy at Platform Arts, Belfast in September 2014 was the result of two years of work and research into swimming and its relationship to the practices of making and performing artworks. She continues to produce collages which are fictional machines for moving through water.

Her 2015 work, Swimming Machine and Swimming Apparatus Costume, are on show at Huddersfield Art Gallery until January 2016. Both pieces are based on 19th century patent designs for objects that would assist in teaching people to swim, but that were never constructed.