About

Grace Browne photographed from above, standing at the centre of a large circular drawing made in white clay on grass. Curved uli lines, spirals and small circles radiate around her, marked out inside a square of white cord. She wears a patterned indigo robe over a Refugee Festival Scotland t-shirt, and is looking up at the camera, smiling. — Grace Browne in *All Water Is Connected*, The Hidden Gardens, Glasgow, 2026. Commissioned by Scottish Refugee Council for Refugee Festival Scotland. Photograph: Jamie Simpson

I am a multidisciplinary artist based in Glasgow. My fluid practice includes visual arts, film and socially engaged arts. My research-based practice roots in uli and inale, the ancient body and mural arts practiced by my Igbo and Idoma foremothers.

I explore creating portals for reconstructing and reimagining ancestral knowledge primarily by learning from nature, the original teacher. I work with foraged earth pigments and natural materials to tell stories of “re-membering” relationships with ecology, ancestry and the body.

My work in community development informs my socially driven practice. I deliver creative and earth pigment making workshops with community organisations. I also am the creator and host of the African Women’s Art podcast.

CV

Commissions & public art

2026All Water Is Connected, public artwork at The Hidden Gardens, Glasgow — commissioned by Scottish Refugee Council for Refugee Festival Scotland
2024we are all keepers of earth poster, public artwork — commissioned by The Hidden Gardens and co-created with the community; Lead Artist
2023–24OGODO, short film — GMAC Films Little Pictures commission, part of Screen Scotland, Glasgow
2021Mural Triptych, temporary public artwork, Glasgow Green — commissioned by Sustrans with funding from Transport Scotland

Exhibitions & group shows

2026Black Waters: Inference to The Veil, Jerwood Curatorial Fellowship, Glasgow School of Art — group exhibition and curatorial research project led by Zoë Zo, Zoë Tumika, Zoë Guthrie and Żżo Charlery
2025Uli Will Go To Heaven, Swedenborg Society, London — display and public workshop
2024Celestial Bodies, Ocean Songs: Gestational Sound Space, Market Gallery, Glasgow — performance and rest space
2024Uli Will Go To Heaven, Woodlands Methodist Church, Glasgow — self-initiated residency and exhibition, funded by Hope Scott Trust
2016Polyphonia, Helensburgh — collaborative installation, funded by Hope Scott Trust

Awards

2026Creative Scotland — Celestial Bodies, Ocean Songs, research and development funding for immersive Extended Reality project
2025Digital Horizons: Black Dance Artist Residency, Birmingham
2025We Are Here Scotland Artist Spotlight
2024Hope Scott Trust
2023–24Creative Scotland — Language of the Land, research and new body of work
2021Glasgow Life Visual Artist & Craft Maker

Podcast & publications

2024–African Women’s Art podcast — host and producer; on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
2023Language of the Land artist book
2023RIAS Quarterly, Summer 2023, Issue 54 — ‘Joy, Beauty and the Built Environment’

Workshops & selected work history

2025–Co-Lead Coordinator, Scottish Museum of Empire, Slavery, Colonialism and Migration
2025Mentor, Archifringe New Producers Programme
2024–Freelance earth pigment workshop facilitator — Woodlands Community Gardens, Scottish Refugee Festival, Edinburgh Arts Festival and Score Scotland’s Women’s Group
2016–Freelance arts facilitator — with organisations including Impact Arts, The Hidden Gardens and Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
2017–22Community Programme Manager, The Hidden Gardens Trust
2016–17Project Coordinator, RADIAL Project, Glasgow School of Art Sustainability

Education

2012–14Architecture (DipArch), Glasgow School of Art
2007–11Architecture (BSc), University College London