My research encompasses objects, installation, photographs, moving image, collage and more recently sound and performance, which together interrogate what 'liveness' might mean within the context of sculpture. My work is underpinned by a fascination with the interconnected processes of decay and the narrative and metaphorical potential that these processes represent. It seeks to undermine what we consider to be solid and stable and reveal not only invisible forces and unseen patterns but also the fluid and shifting nature of all materials.

My practice is structured around a series of sustained research projects investigating new contexts and sites from an 11th century Castle to an aluminium smelter and culminating in significant works which combine time-based performative elements with sculptural presence and considerations. These live sculptural works are made in parallel with studio-based piece which often spring from the larger projects. Collaboration is a vital part of my working process, and I have worked with practitioners and researchers across a wide range of disciplines including percussionists, a mycologist.

My most recent research project is a partnership with Melody Sandells, Snow Physicist and Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria University and Le Centre d’Etudes de la Neige in Grenoble, France. This project looka at how the crisp edges and symmetrical shapes of newly formed snow crystals evolve under changing conditions and the inherent challenges for the warm humans observing this.

Solo exhibitions/events

2017 All That Fall. Workplace Gallery, London, UK

2016 Vital Signs (performance). Durham Castle, Durham, UK

2014 The Ashes of Other Elements. Workplace Gallery, Gateshead

2011 A distance between two points, Airspace Gallery, Stoke on Trent, UK

2010 Crystalline Energy. Lynemouth Smelter, Ashington 

2009 Fade Away and Radiate. Workplace Gallery, Gateshead 

2006 Give and Take. Firstsite, Colchester

Electroasis. Station, Bristol

Selected group exhibitions

2024 Mirror Neurons, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle

        Fungal Forms, Inverleith House, Edinburgh

Interlaced, Constantine Gallery (part of Middlesbrough Art Week), Middlesbrough

2023 Hypha, Church of St John, Healey, Northumberland

2022 Hinterlands, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead

        Innsbruck International Biennial, Innsbruck, Austria

2018 Everyday Politics, CGP, London

2017 In and out of sight, UH Galleries, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

2016 Object Relations, Baltic 39, Newcastle upon Tyne

2015 A Foreign Encounter, Gallerie FOE, Munich, Germany

       Finite Project Altered when Open, David Dale Gallery, Glasgow

2013 Building Dreams, Cragside, Rothbury

        Easy Does it, Aid and Abet, Cambridge, (touring to Supercollider, Blackpool and )

2012 Pertaining to things Natural, Chelsea Physic Garden, London

2011 Rotate, Contemporary Art Society, London

2010 Two x Two, The Rachofsky House, Dallas, Texas, USA,  

2008 Tomorrow the future, Fishmarket Gallery, Northampton

        All my favourite singers couldn’t sing, Workplace Gallery, Gateshead

        Tatton Park Biennial, Cheshire

2007 An Archaeology, Zabludovicz Collection, Project space 176, London

2006 Repatriating the Ark, Museum of Garden History, London

         Blue Star, Red Wedge, Glasgow International, Glasgow

         You shall know our Velocity, BALTIC, Gateshead

2005 Emergency2, Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth

        Art Caucasus, Tblisi, Georgia

2004 Yesvember, House Gallery, London

        Revenge of Romance, Temporary Contemporary, London                                                               

2002 Hothouse, Grizedale Live, Grizedale Forest, Cumbria

2000 Stuffed, Hancock Natural History Museum, Newcastle (curator)

         Small Battles, Mackie Mayor building, Manchester         

         Study and Stay, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle

1999 Great Dutch Painting, commission in response to exhibition, City Art Gallery, Leeds

         VANE Export, Tensta Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden 

Awards and residencies 

2016/7 Arts Council England Grants for the Arts award

2010   Turning Point North East, for series of critical discussion events ‘3 Degrees of Separation’

2009   Arts Council England Grants for the Arts award 

2009   Northern Art Prize, nominee

2008    Bacon Prize, Tokyo, Japan

2008-10Artist in Residence, Rio Tinto Alcan  

2007   Artist in Residence, Fermynwoods Country Park, Northamptonshire 2002

Artist in Residence, Grizedale Forest, Cumbria.

2002   Chrisi Bailey Award for education in creative photography, Arts Council England. 1998 

Study and Stay Graduate Bursary, Northern Arts.

Commissions

2016 Vital Signs Durham Castle, Durham, UK (Temporary commission)

2008 Rarified Tatton Park Biennial, Cheshire, UK (Temporary commission)

2006 Sarracenia Purpurea Repatriating the Ark, Museum of Garden History (Temporary commission)

2002 Uprooted HMRC, Newcastle upon Tyne (Permanent commission)

2002 Hothouse Grizedale Arts, Cumbria (Semi-permanent commission)

2001 Fruitbody Locus +, Newcastle upon Tyne (Temporary commission)

Publications and conferences

2019 Sidestepping History, Paper for Conference Mapping Contemporary Art in the Heritage Experience

2017 In and Out of Sight, UH Galleries (exhibition guide). Essay by Lizzie Lloyd

2016 Vital Signs, Durham Castle (exhibition guide). Essay by Paul Usherwood

2011 A distance between two points, Airspace Gallery (exhibition catalogue). Essay by Ruth Barker

2010 Crystalline Energy, Rio Tinto Alcan (exhibition guide). Essay by David Gleeson

2008 Tatton Park Biennial, Parabola, London, UK (exhibition catalogue)

2007 An Archaeology, Project Space 176, London, UK (exhibition catalogue)

2006 Give and Take, Firstsite Papers, Colchester, UK (exhibition guide). Essay by Sally O’Reilly

2006 Repatriating the Ark, Parabola, London, UK (exhibition catalogue)

2002 camp, Grizedale books, Cumbria, UK

Reviews/articles

Studio International, 16/12/22, Hinterlands by Veronica Simpson

Art Monthly, June 2010, Crystalline Energy by Paul Usherwood

Metro, 11/06/09, Fade Away and Radiate by Christopher Collett

Art Monthly, September 2008, Tatton Park Biennial by Pryle Behrman

Art Papers, Jan/Feb 2007, Give and Take by David Gleeson

The Scotsman, 2/5/06, Blue Star Red Wedge by Susan Mansfield

Guardian, 1/2/06, You shall know our Velocity by Alfred Hickling

Times, 14/1/06, You shall know our Velocity by Michael Glover

Dazed and Confused, Febuary 2006, Northern Lights by Nick Hackworth

Concept for Living, January 2006 You shall know our Velocity by Brett Tudor

Axis Dialogue, Issue 1, Emergency2 by Gordon Dalton

North Guide, November 2001, Stuffed, Richard Jevonns

Dagens Nyheter, April 1999, Vane Export (Stockholm) by Lars O'Ericsson

Other information

I have work in a number of private and public collections internationally

Since starting in 2013, I have taught across all stages of the BA(Hons) and MFA Fine Art. From 2019-22 I was year co-ordinator and Module Leader of Stage 3 studio practice.

In 2024/5 I am:

Degree Programme Director BA(Hons) Fine Art

Head of Teaching and Learning (undergraduate and postgraduate)

Chair of Undergraduate Board of Studies

Studio Tutor, Stage 4 BA(Hons)

• Exhibitions

  • Brown I, Anderson F, Bam R, Bromwich N, Burton A, Castle A, Clay R, Coupe J, Cuddon K, Easton T, Falecka K, Fox N, Grayson R, Hagan L, Huber C, Jones C, Juler E, Kennedy B, Kogelsberger U, Meikle G, Merrick P, Mieves C, Millican J, Moonie S, Pollard I, Pollock V, Servin E, Shaw T, Smith O, Szemán P, Talbot R, Tofield T, Weeks H, Weileder W, Wilson L, Wilson J. Mirror Neurons: group exhibition of all artists / staff of the Fine Art department, Newcastle University, curated by Alistair Robinson and Harriet Sutcliffe. 2024. Newcastle University: Hatton Gallery, 2.
  • Bertola C, Campbell C, Coupe J, Douglas J. In and Out of Sight. 2017. Hertfordshire: UH Galleries, 3.
  • Coupe J. All That Fall. 2017. London, UK: Workplace Gallery, 9.
  • Coupe J. Vital Signs. 2016. Durham: Durham Castle, 1.
  • Axford T, Bertola C, Campbell C, Coupe J, Douglas J. Object Relations. 2016. Newcastle upon Tyne: BALTIC 39, 2.
  • Brown I, Coupe J, King J. Meeting Point. 2015. Various.
  • Coupe J. The Ashes of Other Elements. 2014. Gateshead: Workplace Gallery, 2.
  • Coupe J, Persson L. A Distance Between Two Points. 2011. Stoke on Trent: Airspace Gallery, 6.
  • Coupe J. Crystalline Energy. 2010. Ashington, Northumberland: Lynemouth Smelter, 5. In Preparation.