Artist Talk with Clarissa Gurd

In this talk, Clarissa will take you on a journey—from the isolation of lockdown in Ireland, through an exploration of environmental capitalism in Irish wind farms, to the legacy of industrial pollution poisoning Edinburgh’s waterways. This journey unfolds through the evolution of her creative process, shaped by a growing awareness of the environmental impact of her own photographic practice and sharing how this knowledge has led to experimentation with more sustainable printing methods. Shifting her practice towards creating work not only in response to the environment, but in collaboration with it—using materials and methods drawn directly from the natural world.

Clarissa's 2024 work Caddisfly Larvae is on display as part of our current exhibition Rooting: Ecology, Extraction & Environmental Emergencies in the University’s Art Collection. A further selection of the artist's work will be available for attendees to view as part of the event.

About the artist

Clarissa Gurd is a photographer based in Edinburgh and a recent graduate of Edinburgh College of Art. Having lived rurally in the Republic of Ireland for 30 years, her practice is rooted in a close observation of the environment. Through imagery and alternative photographic processes, she explores overlooked aspects of nature, drawing attention to ecological issues and our shared responsibility to protect the planet’s fragile balance. Her work was recognised with the University of Edinburgh Art Collection Graduate Show Purchase Prize and has been exhibited both nationally and internationally.

About the exhibition

Taking the University’s 350-year-old Art Collection as its focus, Rooting: Ecology, Extraction & Environmental Emergencies in the University’s Art Collection features historic and contemporary artworks that consider environment, ecology, as well as the entangled relationship between economic and colonial legacies and the climate crisis. The display showcases a range of artforms by over 30 different artists acquired by the University and currently used to support and enhance research and learning. As part of the institution’s cultural heritage, the artworks displayed in the exhibition will highlight University’s histories in relation to these topics, as well as offering reflections on the urgency for individual and collective action.

The free exhibition is open Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm, until 15 November 2025.

Images: Installation view of Caddisfly Larvae (2024), Intaglio print made from Iron Oxide sourced from the River Esk on South Bank paper. Digital drawing and textile digital printing on silk. Photo by Ian Georgeson.

Installation view of Uisge Lìte, Sublimation prints on recycled polyester fabric, Edinburgh College of Art, March 2023.

Host or Publisher Library and University Collections