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Patricia Ellis

Patricia Ellis is an artist, art writer, consultant, and curator specialising in all areas of contemporary art and is currently working at the Chelsea College of Arts. She has worked with the Saatchi Gallery since 1998 as an Associate Interpretations Curator and was the editor for Make, a magazine designed for women in the arts. Patricia Ellis has also contributed to publications such as Beaux Arts and Modern Painters & Metropolis M and regularly contributes to Spike Quarterly. As an artist, Ellis’ paintings reflect her interest in how art is communicated in our current digital age. Patricia Ellis’ books include 100: The Work That Changed British Art and Interview with Painting, which she co-authored.

Photo of Patricia Ellis

Patricia Ellis is an artist, art writer, consultant, and curator specialising in all areas of contemporary art and is currently working at the Chelsea College of Arts. She has worked with the Saatchi Gallery since 1998 as an Associate Interpretations Curator and was the editor for Make, a magazine designed for women in the arts. Patricia Ellis has also contributed to publications such as Beaux Arts and Modern Painters & Metropolis M and regularly contributes to Spike Quarterly. As an artist, Ellis’ paintings reflect her interest in how art is communicated in our current digital age. Patricia Ellis’ books include 100: The Work That Changed British Art and Interview with Painting, which she co-authored.

Patricia Ellis Videos

A man with curly hair speaks at a panel discussion, while a woman in glasses listens attentively, surrounded by glasses of water and floral arrangements.
Patricia Ellis,Martin Kemp,Griselda Pollock,Hans Maes,Cedar Lewisohn

The Naked Truth

How does the body in art relate to physical-being? Is nudity ever more than a sales tactic?

More Videos

A surreal depiction of a humanoid arm reaching out with mechanical elements, juxtaposed with a human hand about to make contact, reminiscent of Michelangelo's
Anders Sandberg,Richard K. Morgan,Victoria Turk,Nicky Ashwell

Brave New Horizon

Where will technology lead the human race?
A marble statue of Heracles, depicted in a contemplative pose, sitting on the ground with one knee raised and hand resting on his leg.
Robert Rowland Smith,Havi Carel,Parashkev Nachev,Pen Hadow

The Immortal Now

Can philosophy teach us how to die?
A stylized human figure made of dots and strands is emerging from a DNA double helix, symbolizing the connection between genetics and human life.
David Malone,Rupert Sheldrake,Denis Noble,Anne Bowcock

Emperor's New Genes

Are genes not the blueprint for life we imagined?

A vibrant, abstract artwork featuring an oversized eye, colorful patterns, and intricate textures, blending organic forms with geometric designs.
Mark Salter,Andrew Bowie,Gavin Turk,Joanna Burch-Brown

The Beautiful Universe

Is beauty hardwired into our world?
A concert scene with an audience silhouetted against vibrant red stage lights, hands raised in excitement, creating an energetic atmosphere.
Jonathan Derbyshire,Eric Clarke,Lydia Goehr,Rhian Samuel,Marc Robinson

The Mystery of Music

Explaining the transcendental
A man with short, tousled hair wearing a black and white striped sweater speaks passionately at a panel discussion, gesturing with his hands.
Julian Stallabrass

Banksy and the Media Barons

Julian Stallabrass charts the rise of a generation of media-savvy artists raking in millions.
The image features a stylized interpretation of Michelangelo's
Julian Spalding,Mel Evans,Gavin Turk

Michelangelo vs Damien Hirst

Has contemporary art lost its way?
A human skull positioned on a dark surface, illuminated by a soft light that highlights its contours and shadows.
Brooke Magnanti

What happens to our bodies when we die?

Biologist Brooke Magnati reveals the secrets of decay
A photographed urinal titled
Julian Spalding

Duchamp's Deception

Julian Spalding | Was Duchamp a fraud?
A stylized human figure made of dots and strands is emerging from a DNA double helix, symbolizing the connection between genetics and human life.
Lou Marinoff,Helena Cronin,Nayef Al-Rodhan,Richard Corfield

The Evolution of Desire

Do genetics explain all of human nature?
A hand holds a small plant with green leaves and soil, symbolizing growth and environmental care against a blurred natural background.
Aubrey de Grey

Defeating Aging

Do you want to live forever?
Close-up of a water droplet creating ripples on a transparent globe, showcasing fluid dynamics and reflections in monochrome.
Andrew Motion

Truth and Poetry

Andrew Motion | Where does poetry gets its power?
A forest scene with eerie atmosphere, featuring hands emerging from tree trunks, suggesting a haunting or supernatural presence.
Richard Morgan,Hilary Lawson,Sam Roddick,Mark Salter

The Secrets of the Uncanny

What does our sense of the uncanny say about us?
A pair of realistic hands, one with a shiny metallic finish and the other in a textured dark color, positioned palm down on a white surface.
Nicky Ashwell

The New Bodies

Transhumanism: Rise of the Cyborgs
A bald man in a black turtleneck smiles subtly against a dark background, exuding a contemplative and artistic presence.
Paul Morley,Brian Eno

Seizing the Means of Production

Brian Eno: What the Future Could Look Like
A lush outdoor scene featuring a nude woman sitting with two dressed men, while another figure in a white dress is seen in the background near a stream.
Stephen Bayley,Peter Curran,Andrew Bowie,Mel Evans

The Emperor's New Art

From where does art get its value?
Close-up of full, glossy lips with a light pink hue, showcasing texture and shine.
Rowan Pelling

Orgasmatron

What can MRI scans of brains in orgasm tell us?
Two visitors observe a large, textured black circle artwork against a white wall in a gallery setting.
Julian Spalding

Con Art

Should we redefine conceptual art?
A surreal scene depicting a man wearing glasses and a helmet sitting at a table with a baboon, both holding cocktails, under a stormy sky with lightning.
David Malone,Rupert Sheldrake,Oliver Scott Curry,Eva Jablonka

After Darwin

Is the age of selfish gene theory over?
A man in a shirt and tie pours thick liquid from a bottle into a spoon, displaying a focused expression.
Isabel Hilton,Sue Bailey,David Healy,Jeremy Taylor

Are Doctors Bad For Us?

Medicine, trust, and power
A group of hands in various skin tones and positions is stacked together, creating a sense of unity and collaboration, with a blue and purple gradient background.
Zoe Williams,Philip Ball,Kurt Barling,Anne Bowcock

The Illusion of Race

How do we move on from race?
A distorted, grotesque portrait of a woman with exaggerated facial features, dressed in a historical costume and headdress, showcasing an unsettling expression and strong physical attributes.
Stephen Bayley

On Ugliness

Why 'ugliness' is a virtue
A metallic abstract sculpture of a seated figure, with interwoven strands creating a flexible, dynamic form against a yellow background.
Bracha Ettinger,Griselda Pollock

Becoming Human

Can art change who you are?
A realistic drawing of a large human eye with hands cupping and holding its dark pupil, emphasizing depth and detail.
Stephen Bayley,Peter Curran,Angela Breitenbach,Alastair Reynolds

Beauty Bites Back

Could beauty be real rather than subjective?
A man in a suit with a broken television for a head, connected to a tree, set against a colorful abstract background.
Julian Baggini,Janet Radcliffe-Richards,Daniel Everett,Oliver Scott Curry

After Evolution

Is culture beyond genetics?
A surgical team in scrubs and masks collaborates in an operating room, surrounded by medical instruments on a table and a monitor displaying patient information.
Phillip Blond,David Healy,David Nutt

Doctors in the Age of Google

Is it time to rid ourselves of medical authority?
A close-up of a wooden violin resting on an open music sheet book, displaying intricate musical notes and compositions.
Michael McIntyre,Gabrielle Walker,Philip Ball,Joanna Bailie

Music's Mystery

The secret to music's emotion
A cup of tea beside a magazine featuring Beyoncé, titled
Sam Roddick,Bence Nanay,Danielle Sands,Justine Kolata

Life, Beauty and Being

Is beauty something we now buy?
A person standing on a cliff, overlooking a vast ocean under a cloudy sky, conveying a sense of solitude and contemplation.
Nicholas Humphrey

The Evolution of Suicide

Nicholas Humphrey | Self-killing's genetic history
A close-up of surgical forceps with a blood-stained suture on a blue surgical drape, indicating a medical procedure.
David Healy

Doctors and the Danger Industry

Can big data improve the effectiveness of drugs?
A massive nuclear explosion creates a billowing mushroom cloud above the ocean, surrounded by dark, dramatic skies illuminated by fiery orange and yellow hues.
Sebastian Farquhar

Life On The Edge

How can we halt society's existential crises?
A man in glasses speaks into a microphone while sitting against a light-colored background. He appears engaged in a discussion or interview setting.
Hans Ulrich Obrist,Susan Hiller

American Surreal

Artist Susan Hiller looks back on her career with Serpentine co-director Hans Ulrich Obrist.
A single wilted red rose with brown, dried leaves resting on its petals against a soft, blurred background.
Patricia MacCormack,Anders Sandberg,Janne Teller,Rowan Pelling

Overcoming death

Does fearing death prevent us from fully living?
Colorful abstract artwork featuring swirling patterns of blue, orange, yellow, and purple, resembling a marbled texture.
Mel Evans

Broken Beauty

How can art combat the power of oil and money?

A vibrant gradient artwork featuring a pixelated price tag, displayed in a clear acrylic frame. The colors include pink, blue, and yellow hues.
Dylan Evans,Julian Spalding,Don Paterson,Janne Teller

The Best is to Come

What is the future of art?
Silhouette of a person holding a smartphone against a bright blue background, capturing an image.
Phillip Dodd,Colin MacCabe,Jennifer Scott,Paloma Strelitz

What is the Power of Art?

The work of art in the age of mass consumption
A colorful, stylized illustration of a group of diverse figures with distinctive hairstyles and clothing, showcasing vibrant patterns and bold colors.
Daniel Miller,Peter York,Serena Kutchinsky,Helen Croydon

Dying for Dior

Is fashion an aesthetic art form?
Silhouette of a person with glasses against a vibrant, colorful background of DNA sequencing patterns.
Julian Baggini,Steven Rose,Adrian Bird,Caroline Relton

Why We Are Who We Are

The epigenetic revolution
A group of men in white shirts, black hats, and ties walk across a vast desert, each carrying a briefcase, creating a surreal and repetitive scene.
Hilary Rose,Barnaby Martin,Ian Wilmut,Anders Sandberg

Planet of the Clones

Should we clone human beings?
A close-up of a person's face painted blue with a world map design, showcasing green eyes and a creative representation of the Earth.
David Malone,Eva Aldea,Nicholas Maxwell,Nicholas Humphrey,Ken Binmore

The Uniqueness of Humanity

Is evolution progress?
A senior man speaks passionately while seated in a patterned armchair, wearing a sweater and collared shirt, against a softly lit background.
Nicolas Roeg

Nicolas Roeg

The legendary director makes the case for cinema defined by risks, accidents and adventure.
A woman with stylish glasses and tousled blonde hair poses confidently against a white wall, wearing a vibrant, abstract-patterned dress.
Annie Nightingale

On the Air with Annie Nightingale

Reflections on a life at music's cutting edge
A close-up view of a vibrant rose with petals displaying a gradient of colors including pink, purple, and yellow against a blurred background.
Godfrey Barker,Julian Spalding,Georgina Adam,Andy Holden,Ben Austin

Art and the Artful

Concept, craftsmanship and art
A runner traverses colorful, intertwining neurons, symbolizing the connection between physical activity and neural activity in the brain.
Steven Rose

Genes, Cells, and Brains

Taking on the bioscience industry
A medical professional in a white coat holds a red stethoscope with arms crossed, symbolizing healthcare and physician authority.
Rachel Armstrong,Steve Fuller,Athene Donald,Lionel Milgrom,Dylan Evans

A Paradigm of Health

What are the limits of western medicine?

A black-and-white scene featuring three characters: a woman with long hair and bangs smiling, a man with glasses looking thoughtful, and another man in a suit observing them.
Emma Sulkowicz,Stanley Fish,John Harvey,Nell Stevens,Janne Teller

The Good, the Bad and the Artist

Should we separate the artist from the art?
Two butterflies, one vibrant blue and brown and the other yellow and black, rest against a surreal backdrop of vivid blue skies and a fragmented wall, casting distinct shadows.
Griselda Pollock,Julian Stallabrass,Juliet Gardiner,Sidsel Christensen

Is Beauty Back?

The future of art
A man with curly hair speaks at a panel discussion, while a woman in glasses listens attentively, surrounded by glasses of water and floral arrangements.
Patricia Ellis,Martin Kemp,Griselda Pollock,Hans Maes,Cedar Lewisohn

The Naked Truth

How does the body in art relate to physical-being? Is nudity ever more than a sales tactic?
A futuristic humanoid robot showcasing a sleek design, with visible internal circuitry and a partially transparent head revealing colorful neural connections.
Kevin Warwick

Cyborg Future

Microprocessors & nano-robots in the human body
An older man with silver hair gestures while speaking, seated on a floral-patterned chair. A glass pitcher is visible in the foreground.
Hilary Lawson,Bryan Appleyard,Elisabeth Schellekens,Semir Zeki

Inside the Mind’s Eye