Eleanor Shipman (b. 1989) is a visual and participatory artist based in Bristol.
Her practice explores the complexities of birth and m/otherhood, hidden labour in industrial and domestic creation, and existential concerns surrounding climate collapse. Informed by social practice, her multidisciplinary approach – spanning public art, textiles, sculpture and collage – invites participation through design, process, and form. Taking part in her work could involve: sharing placenta-shaped cake to reflect on birth; writing redactive poetry using university policies on parenting; spinning a wall of hourglasses on the sustainability of sand; or donating quilts to charity shops, which unknowingly become sculptures. Eleanor’s work honours the labour embedded in interconnected materials and objects, often reassembling them into new narratives. Her practice creates space for meaningful conversation and aims to embed small forms of legacy – gifts back to those involved, reflections on research, changes to policy, informing public spaces.
Eleanor Shipman holds a BA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art (2008 – 2011) and an MSc in Sustainable Development from UWE (2015 – 2016). Her background in gallery education, community development, and public engagement shapes her approach. She frequently works with universities, hospitals, galleries, and museums and is also an illustrator and designer.
Eleanor Shipman is an Associate Artist at Spike Island and member of the Public Sculptures and Statues Association, and The Art Working Parents Alliance.
Selected commissions and exhibitions include: Charting Change public realm commission for the University of Bristol with the Contemporary Art Society Consultancy, current (UK); Safe Spaces: The Rights of Women through their Words, Work and Creativity, The Gram (CZ); MK Calling group show at MK Gallery (UK); RE:COLLECTION – Regathering Social Practice, solo show at Bricks (UK); 24 Hours of Sand, a permanent exhibit at We The Curious (UK); Who Made My Clothes? exhibition at The Vietnamese Women’s Museum (VN); M/OTHERS IN THE INSTITUTION, a participatory project and public artwork at the University of Bristol (UK).
Eleanor has been published in: Safe Spaces: The Rights of Women through their Words, Work and Creativity, Art Connect Women, 2024 (CZ); Bricks podcast: Recollecting RE:COLLECTION with Eleanor Shipman and Elita Robertson, 2023 (UK); Cut, Torn and Mended, Spilt Milk Gallery, 2023 (UK); My Body in My Hands, Sam Lucas and Nick Greillier, 2023 (UK); TIDE Magazine, 2022 (FR); They Draw and Travel: 100 Illustrated Maps of Very Special Places, Nate Padavick, 2020 (US) amongst others.
Works
Eleanor Shipman
MUMMY / mummy limited edition of 100
2025
The edition is a bespoke lanyard Eleanor Shipman originally created as part of a research project at The University of Bristol called Empowering Parents in Higher Education by Dr Jenny...
£100.00
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Studio
Eleanor Shipman, 60,000 Last Breaths, 2019
Eleanor Shipman, All We Leave Behind, 2019
Eleanor Shipman, Ecdysis Dance, 2019
Eleanor Shipman, Ecdysis Dance, 2019
Eleanor Shipman, Ecdysis Dance, 2019
Eleanor Shipman, Ecdysis Dance, 2019
Eleanor Shipman, Ecdysis Dance, 2019
Eleanor Shipman, Expect the Unexpected 1, 2023
Eleanor Shipman, Expect the Unexpected 3, 2023
Eleanor Shipman, Expect the Unexpected 5, 2023
Eleanor Shipman, Soft Play, installation view at Women by Women, Bristol, 2021
Eleanor Shipman, The Catalogue Series - 2007 - 2008, 2023
Eleanor Shipman, The Catalogue Series - 2013 - 2014, 2023
Eleanor Shipman, The Catalogue Series - 2016 - 2019, 2023
Eleanor Shipman, Uncertain Faces 1, 2023
Eleanor Shipman, Uncertain Faces 2, 2023
Eleanor Shipman, Uncertain Faces 3, 2023
Eleanor Shipman, Unheard, 2023
Eleanor Shipman, Arden's View, Volume 1, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Cutting Cords, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Hanging in the Balance, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Hostile, 2024-25
Eleanor Shipman, Mother Stone, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Mummy MUMMY, lanyard series, installation view at Women by Women 2, Bristol, 2024
Eleanor Shipman, Name Chain, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Plastic Placentas Series, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Plastic Placenta 1 (Series 1 - 4), 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Plastic Placenta 2 (Series 1 - 4), 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Plastic Placenta 3 (Series 1 - 4), 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Plastic Placenta 4 (Series 1 - 4), 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Siblings 1 & 2, 2024
Eleanor Shipman, The View From Here 2, 2024
Eleanor Shipman, The View From Here 3, 2024
Eleanor Shipman, Through Mother Stone, 1/8, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Through Mother Stone, 2/8, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Through Mother Stone, 3/8, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Through Mother Stone, 4/8, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Through Mother Stone, 5/8, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Through Mother Stone, 6/8, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Through Mother Stone, 7/8, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, Through Mother Stone, 8/8, 2025
Eleanor Shipman, 52 Emails, 2024
Eleanor Shipman, 52 Emails (house of cards detail view), 2024
Eleanor Shipman, Injurious Effect, (housed at Bristol Digital Futures Institute) 2022
Eleanor Shipman, Not Working (fabrication view), 2024
