Dan Guthrie is an artist and writer whose practice explores representations and mis-representations of Blackness, questioning not only what is shown, but what remains unseen. His moving image work has employed strategies such as refusal, erasure and concealment to discuss and dissect subjects without directly showing them on screen, and he has an ongoing interest in the use of audiovisual access materials as a site for experimenting with image interpretation. 

His latest project, Empty Alcove / Rotting Figure, was co-commissioned by Spike Island, Bristol and Chisenhale Gallery, London, and toured both venues in 2025, with the accompanying online platform earf.info publishing new writing by Guthrie and invited contributors throughout the year. His earlier work has been screened widely across the UK as well as internationally at film festivals including IFFR, Prismatic Ground and Berlinale. He is currently based between the UK and the Netherlands, and from 2026 to 2027 will be a resident artist at Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, Amsterdam.

dan@danguthrie.net | instagram.com/danglefree

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2026    DINAMO: Obscurity, IFFR, Rotterdam
2025    Toward the Forest, Forma, London
2025    CIRCA PRIZE 2025, CIRCA, London
2024    Absent Forces, Open City Documentary Festival, London
2023 – 2024    Spirit Messages international screening tour, aemi
2023    Selected 13 UK screening tour, FLAMIN / videoclub
2023    Year 3, Prismatic Ground, New York
2023    18th Forum Expanded, Berlinale
2023    Right of Way, LUX, London

Selected press

2025    Empty Alcove / Rotting Figure review, The White Pube
2025    Empty Alcove / Rotting Figure review, Frieze
2025    Empty Alcove / Rotting Figure review, Art Monthly
2025    Empty Alcove / Rotting Figure feature, Plaster
2025    Empty Alcove / Rotting Figure feature, The Guardian
2023    Right of Way review, ArtReview
2022    Right of Way review, The Guardian
2021    Blackboy Clock feature, The Guardian

Selected writing

2025    Tour Diary I – V, earf.info
2024    How to Sleep Faster 15 contributor, Arcadia Missa
2023    Right of Way opinion piece, The Guardian
 2023    Going on a Bear Hunt, Art Monthly

Selected talks and conversations

2025    In conversation with Olamiju Fajemisin, Chisenhale Gallery, London
2025    In conversation with Layla Gatens, The Goods Shed, Stroud
2025    Contested Heritage: A Discussion, St Cross College, Oxford
2025    In conversation with Bolanle Tajudeen and Cleo Lake, Spike Island, Bristol
2024    Let’s talk public art, in the pub, Care Contractors, Basildon
2024    Occupied City Q&A with Steve McQueen, ICA, London

Residencies and programmes

2026 – 2027    Residency, Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, Amsterdam
2024    Arts Foundation residency, Hawkwood, Stroud
2023    Interdisciplinary residency, Hospitalfield, Arbroath
2023    Statues for Memory summer school, Cast in Stone, Paris
2021 – 2022    Day School alternative art education programme, Bristol
2019 + 2022    Amplify residency, Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridgeshire

Awards and bursaries

2024    Visual Arts Award Shortlist, The Arts Foundation
2023    Artist Grant, DRABL
2023    Joanna Drew Travel Bursary, The Elephant Trust
2022    Michael O’Pray Prize, FVU / Art Monthly
2021    November Grantee, Grand Plan
 2021    Time Space Money bursary, a-n
 2021    Artist Development Bursary, The Box Plymouth

Project assistance

2025    Edward George: Black Atlas, The Warburg Institute, London

Teaching and facilitation

2025    Tutorials, TOMA, Southend-on-Sea
2025    Guest lecturer, UWE, Bristol
2025    Guest lecturer, Bath Spa University, Bath
2024 + 2025    Visiting artist, Day School, Bristol
2023    Guest lecturer, National Film and Television School, Beaconsfield
2022    Guest lecturer, Bristol School of Art, London
2022 – 2023    Co-instigator, LUX South West Critical Forum, online
2022    Guest lecturer, PILOT III - Rights, Care and Future, Autograph, London

Film programming

2022 – 2023    Associate programmer, Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival
2021 – 2022    Submissions viewer, Glasgow Short Film Festival
2019 – 2021    UK selection committee, London Short Film Festival
2020    No Fact of Blackness, London Short Film Festival

Boards and juries

2025    Independent judge, Grand Plan
2022 – 2023    Community Taskforce member, Stroud District Council
2022    International jury, Encounters Film Festival
2022 – 2023    Trustee, Stroud Valleys Artspace
2021 – 2022    Contested Heritage Review Panel member, Stroud District Council