Michael Burkitt was born in Scunthorpe in 1985 and studied at Leeds College of Art & Design between 2003-2004 and then at Leeds Metropolitan University from 2004 to 2007. He spent six months at HKU Utrecht School of the Arts between January and June 2006.
His recent exhibitions and performances include: Fresh Meat, The Art Market, Merrion Market, Leeds; If This Ain’t Art, Why Does It Feel So Good?, Leeds Metropolitan University; Beautiful Hospitality, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds; Rematch, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds; Call for Submission, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds; Buy This Piece & Don’t Buy This Piece, The Art Market, Merrion Market, Leeds.
He has just relocated to The Isle of Man where he is establishing group studio space. He has forthcoming exhibitions and performances at The Art Market, Leeds; 1032 Gallery, Leeds and Light Night, Leeds. He is a founding member of the live art group Fresh Meat.
Throughout the last three years Burkitt has pursued a practice centred around live art, developing a series of actions, events and interruptions. During his final two years at Leeds Met. he supported himself through maintaining an early morning cleaning job in the Vernon Street building at Leeds College of Art and Design. In order to finish his dissertation he left this post abruptly and in breach of his contract (he did not give the required period of notice). In his piece ‘Artists Impression’ Michael employs two performers / agents to clean the Vernon Street stairs and landings for the week of the exhibition in order to fulfil his two weeks notice to the college. Whilst carrying out their duties these ‘cleaners’ will engage foundation students, who are at the beginning of their art education, in conversations about famous performance pieces from the canon of art history.
His recent exhibitions and performances include: Fresh Meat, The Art Market, Merrion Market, Leeds; If This Ain’t Art, Why Does It Feel So Good?, Leeds Metropolitan University; Beautiful Hospitality, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds; Rematch, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds; Call for Submission, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds; Buy This Piece & Don’t Buy This Piece, The Art Market, Merrion Market, Leeds.
He has just relocated to The Isle of Man where he is establishing group studio space. He has forthcoming exhibitions and performances at The Art Market, Leeds; 1032 Gallery, Leeds and Light Night, Leeds. He is a founding member of the live art group Fresh Meat.
Throughout the last three years Burkitt has pursued a practice centred around live art, developing a series of actions, events and interruptions. During his final two years at Leeds Met. he supported himself through maintaining an early morning cleaning job in the Vernon Street building at Leeds College of Art and Design. In order to finish his dissertation he left this post abruptly and in breach of his contract (he did not give the required period of notice). In his piece ‘Artists Impression’ Michael employs two performers / agents to clean the Vernon Street stairs and landings for the week of the exhibition in order to fulfil his two weeks notice to the college. Whilst carrying out their duties these ‘cleaners’ will engage foundation students, who are at the beginning of their art education, in conversations about famous performance pieces from the canon of art history.
