visual storytelling: the story of george shaw in birmingham

We are seeking to appoint an outstanding visual artist for a paid, two-dimensional commission to create a design for a new public artwork. The artwork will use visual storytelling to communicate the contribution of early photographer George Shaw (1818–1904) to the development of photography in Birmingham.

George Shaw was a patent agent, chemist, photographer, and artist who contributed to civic life in nineteenth-century Birmingham. He was an expert in electrometallurgy, worked closely with manufacturers and industrialists, and shared technological expertise through public lectures and publications.

Coming from a family background in glass manufacture, Shaw advised inventors, created artworks in the landscape, and produced early daguerreotype photographs. He served as a juror for the Great Exhibition of 1851 and International Exhibition of 1862, vice-president of the Mechanics Institution, and Professor of Chemistry at Queens College on Paradise Street, Birmingham.

The Commission Brief

The successful artist will create a design that reflects elements of George Shaw’s story. The design should be sympathetic to the heritage environment in which it will be installed. Please see the enclosed inspiration document for guidance.

We encourage a diverse range of applicants and are actively seeking applications from a wide range of individuals to reflect the diversity of our city.