United Visual Artists

London, United Kingdom

Founded by Chris Bird, Matt Clark and Ash Nehru in 2003, United Visual Artists (UVA) is a London based art and design practice. Their work spans architectural and responsive installations, live performance and public art. Research and development is core to their process enabling them to constantly explore new fields as well as re-examine more established ones.

UVA’s work is about social experience, turning the audience into active participants. The relationship between space, the performer and the audience is at the heart of UVA’s practice.

They created The V&A and Sony Playstation commission ‘Volume’ which was the first major commission for the museum’s John Madejski Garden and the work is currently touring nternationally. ‘Volume’ won the D&AD yellow pencil in 2007 for interactive installation and featured in the ‘Designs of The Year 2008′ show at the Design Museum, London.

In 2008 they were shortlisted for the Darwin bicentenary commission at the Natural History Museum, London. UVA have been selected to create two major new public art commissions for Maple Leaf Square in Toronto, Canada.

• Onward 2009, GSK Contemporary Earth, The Royal Academy & Burlington Arcade, London , UK
• Frozen In Time 2009, Pandamonium, WWF Charity Auction, Selfridges, London, UK
• New York Times ‘T’ with Tom Hingston 2009
• Chorus 2009, A major new commission by Opera North Leeds, UK
• Array 2008, Chuya Museum, Yamaguchi, Japan Commissioned by YCAM
• Hereafter 2007, Belsay Castle, Northumberland, UK
• Volume 2006, The Victoria & Albert, London; Southbank Centre, London; Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia; Taipei County Hall, Taiwan
• Echo 2006, Turbine Hall Tate Modern touring to Teatro Sociale di Como, Italy 2009