Dr CJ O'Neill
Senior Lecturer
Craft
'Materiality of Motherhood' (2022- ) Materialising experiences of trauma and loss within motherhood, with and for others, holding space for difficult conversations opened up through objects and making. Workshops, artefacts and publications. In collaboration with Gaddum Manchester and the Manchester Maternal Mental Health team.
'Flightlines'(2022- ) is focused on the complexities of womens' lives lived with clay, revealing hidden labour and celebrating methods of managing, and is a collaboration with Dr Natasha Mayo, and the Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA), York. Presented at NCECA and ICF 2023. Co-authored journal article, NCECA Journal 53 + series of podcasts forthcoming 2025 as part of CoCA's anniversary celebrations and International Women's Day 2025.
Contributors include: Sarah Christie, Phoebe Cummings, Helen Felcey, Ina Kaur, Claire Loder, Sam Lucas, Mandy Parslow, Stephanie Rozene.
'Clay Networks' (2018-19) explored the communities of practice around 3D printing in clay and began to materialise the 'others' present in ourselves, investigating ways to connect us to and acknowledge these 'others' through objects. Presented at British Ceramics Biennial 2019; Wedgwood, Gladstone and Potteries Museum; keynote at Ceramic Communities Symposium, Cardiff, 2019.
'My, Your, Our Stories: artistic interventions exploring everyday ceramics' - PhD by practice (2018) explored issues around authorship, value and collaboration through the use of everyday ceramic objects in combination with narrative utilising both hand and industrial processes. My interest was in how these objects can connect people, enabling them to construct their own narratives.
I have undertaken numerous commissions for ceramic lighting and objects for private individuals and corporate clients as well as exhibiting internationally. I am a selected member of the Crafts Councils of Ireland and England and have contributed to start-up schemes such as Making It, Northern Ireland; Project Network, ICRC, Denmark and Hothouse, Crafts Council, UK.
I am a reviewer for Bloomsbury Academic and international conferences and have been external examiner for MA and BA programmes: MA Design at Central St Martins, BA (Hons) Ceramics at Cardiff Metropolitan University, BA (Hons) Contemporary Applied Arts, Belfast School of Art.
As a senior lecturer teaching Craft across BA and MA, I contribute to teaching across the curriculum and enable students to interrogate and underpin their making with theory and writing as well as working on live projects, across levels and disciplines, with external partners to enable students to build skills and networks. Previously at MMU, I have been programme leader for BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design as well as route leader for MA Design LAB: Craft.
I supervise MRes / PhD students across a range of disciplines and welcome PhD proposals from students interested in ceramics, craft, everyday, material culture and social practice.
Supervision includes:
Peter Jones (forthcoming) 'Concealed Labour: Rediscovering the skills of industrial ceramic practices from the Spode Works through object, site and contemporary ceramic practice.'
Dr Ian McIntyre (2022) ‘The Best Teapot Never Designed’: Re-engineering the Brown Betty
Ruth Clifford (2012) MRes 'Hand weaving in India', 2nd supervisor
Projects
a.The Materiality of Motherhood (2022 - )
Materialising recovery from trauma and loss within motherhood, with and for others, holding space for difficult conversations opened up through objects and making. Workshops, artefacts and publications. Details…
b. Flightlines (2022 - )
A collaboration with Dr Natasha Mayo researching the extraordinary relationships between womens’ ceramic practice and our lived experience. Podcasts, conference presentations & publication. Details…
c. Clay Networks (2018-20)
Research into the network surrounding 3d printing in clay established the value of embodied knowledge within the individuals facilitating others use of the technology in this field. Acknowledging and revealing the importance of material knowledge in combination with digital skill through people, objects and material response. Details…
d. (Y)our Stories: events, residency, exhibitions, artefacts, Denmark and UK (2016-17)
Through artistic intervention, this project explores how connections can be established between people through everyday ceramic objects. The focus is the in-between ground of three theories – bundling (Keane 2003), dispersed creativity (Leach 2004), and materialising the self (Tilley 2006). Details…
e. The Plate Experiment, Manchester, Stoke, UK (2011-15)
The concept for the work developed from the way of designing a piece of finished ceramic work that I would normally exhibit. I was interested in exposing this process; initially, the thought was to allow the visitor to understand the process of creating a work, the papercutting, laying out of designs, changes, transfer cutting, application, firing, more layers, more firing, etc. Details…
f. The Pol Project: Ahmedabad, India (2010)
A four week long residency project The Pol Project (the pilot of a proposed 3 year scheme which aims to combine the knowledge of UK and Indian craftspeople and researchers in order to engage with a communal urban space) at Arts Reverie in Dahl ni Pol, a Jain community in the heart of the old city of Ahmedabad, India, in October 2010 undertaken together with visual anthropologist and filmmaker Amanda Ravetz. Amanda and I developed a close collaboration, running workshops and exploring everyday rituals within the Pol through conversation with the community, photography, film and ceramic. Details…
g. Graffiti*d: A British Ceramics Biennial commission, Stoke, UK (2008-9)
This project was commissioned by the British Ceramics Biennial and was loosely divided into 2 parts. The first was to respond to the now redundant Aynsley factory and all it's glorious contents. Details…
h. Wesley meets Art: residency, exhibition and auction, Manchester, UK (2008-9)
This is a collaborative project between CJ O’Neill, Lee Garland and Wesley Community Furniture Project, Manchester. Background information can be found here; Wesley: www. Details…
i. Kirkens Project: an invited residency at Guldagergaard, Denmark (2008)
Working within the post industrial genre of contemporary ceramics, this project was the result of an invitation to be an artist in residence at Guldagergaard, International ceramic research centre, Skaelskor, Denmark in 2008. The project focuses on the upcycling of second hand objects working with Skaelskor’s Kirkens Korshaer charity shop. Details…
j. Design Camp: Arts Reverie, Ahmedabad, India (2007)
The Design Camp model is based on a commitment to the development of local economies of practice. It is seeking to support the preservation of traditional skills and their application to processes and products for national and international markets. Details…
k. Storytelling & Poetry: Denmark (2005)
This was an 8 week residency undertaken at the International Ceramic Research Centre - Guldagergaard, Denmark - in the summer of 2005. During the time here I developed a body of work - new heirlooms - using ceramic pieces from the many charity and second hand shops in the village and also gathered on journeys around Denmark. Details…
l. Andor Technology: installation, Belfast (2005)
This commission for Andor Technology, Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 2005, included 62 large wall lights (using colour changing LED’s as their light source) in their new corporate headquarters. The piece was designed in response to the building; it’s uses and the people who work there. Details…
Research
CJ O'Neill is a member of the Design Research Hub.
Exhibitions
O'Neill, C., 2016. (Y)Our Stories, The Apple House Gallery, Guldagergård, Denmark, 5/5/2016.
Kettle, A., 2013. Pairings, Contemporary Applied Arts, London, May 2013.
O'Neill, C. J., Kettle, Alice, 2012. Pairings II Conversations & Collaborations, Museum in the Park, Stroud, May 2012.
O'Neill, C. J., Ravetz, Amanda, 2011. Asia Triennial Manchester, Manchester Craft and Design Centre, Manchester, UK, October 2011.
O'Neill, C. J., 2011. Fresh Research at British Ceramics Biennial, Spode, Stoke-On-Trent, September-November 2011.
Webb, J., 2011. Pairings, MMU Special Collections, Otter Gallery Chichester, Fairfield Mill, Cumbria, September 2010 -.
O'Neill, C. J., 2011. State of Play, Cube Gallery, Manchester, July 2011.
O'Neill, C. J., 2011. Transformations & Metamorphosis, Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany, May 2011.
O'Neill, C. J., 2010. Ahmedabad International Arts Festival, Arts Reverie & British Council Library, Ahmedabad, India, September 2010.
O'Neill, C. J., 2010. Embracing Technology, Craft Council of Ireland Galleries, Kilkenny, Ireland, 6th August-20th October 2010.
O'Neill, C. J., Kettle, Alice, 2010. Pairings, Special Collections Gallery, Manchester, September 2010 - Jan 2011.
O'Neill, CJ, 2009. Christmas Bounty, Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Oct 2009 - Jan 2010.
O'Neill, CJ, 2009. Fragiles, Kuwait Art Foundation, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, Nov 2008 - 2010.
Cecula, Marek, O'Neill, CJ, 2009. Non Object Ive, Lodz, Polska, 15-31 October 2009.
O'Neill, CJ, 2009. Object Factory: The Art of Industrial Ceramics curated by Marek Cecula, MAD Museum, New York, USA, March 2009 - August 2009.
O'Neill, CJ, 2009. Sterling Irish (curated by Angela O'Kelly), Castle Yard Galleries, Kilkenny, Ireland, August 7th - 16th 2009.
O'Neill, C. J., 2009. Tabletop, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh, UK, August 2009.
O'Neill, CJ, 2009. Transformations, Flow Gallery, London, 26th November 2009 - 1 January 2010.
O'Neill, CJ, 2008. Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, Manchester Grammer School, Manchester, 23 - 26 October 2008.
O'Neill, C. J., 2008. Kirkens Project, Guldagergaard, Nov 2008.
O'Neill, CJ, 2008. Object Factory: The Art of Industrial Ceramics curated by Marek Cecula, Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Canada, 8 May - 21 Sept 2008.
O'Neill, CJ and Garland, L, 2008. Wesley meets Art (two person show), Special Collections Gallery, MMU, 8 Dec 2008 - 20 Feb 2009.
Dixon, S., 2007. '200 Years: Slavery Now', Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool., 19 October to 17 November.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. Christmas Lighting, Hub, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, Nov 2007 - Jan 2008.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. Design Camp, House of MG, Ahmedebad, India, Sept 2007.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. Design Crafts, Bilston Art Gallery, Wolverhampton, May 2007.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. Go Digital, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, China, 2007.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. Handled With Care, DesignBoom, Truman Brewery, London, Sept 2007.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. HauteGREEN, DWR, Broadway, New York, May 2007.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. Homes and Gardens, Chester racecourse, Sept 2007.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. Make Me, Timber Wharf, Manchester, Nov 2006.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. Slavery: 200 years curated by Stephen Dixon, Bluecoat Display Centre, Nov 2007.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. The In Show, Holden Gallery, All Saints, Manchester, Sept 2007.
O'Neill, CJ, 2006. 100% Design with Design Initiative, Earls Court, London, Sept 2006.
O'Neill, CJ, 2006. Artefact, All Saints, Manchester, Sept 2006.
O'Neill, CJ, 2006. Design UK curated by Max Fraser, Liberty, London, Sept 2006.
Grimshaw, D., 2006. Make Me - Urban Splash Apartment, Timber Wharf, Manchester, November 2006.
O'Neill, CJ, 2006. North of Watford, Platform Gallery, Clitheroe, June 2006.
O'Neill, CJ, 2006. Top Notch, Lighthouse, Glasgow, Jan 2006.
O'Neill, CJ, 2005. 100% Design with Design Initiative, Earls Court, London, Sept 2005.
O'Neill, CJ, 2005. Exhibition, Grimmerhus, Denmark, Nov 2005.
O'Neill, CJ, 2005. Make Me C, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, Nov 2006.
O'Neill, CJ, 2005. Storytelling and Poetry, Guldagergaard, Denmark, Aug 2005.
O'Neill, CJ, 2004. 100% Design with Design Nation, Earls Court, London, Sept 2004.
O'Neill, CJ, 2004. Chelsea Crafts Fair, Chelsea Town Hall, London, Oct 2004.
O'Neill, CJ, 2004. Dressing Up, Bluecoat Display Centre, 2004.
O'Neill, CJ, 2004. Reinventing the bauble, Hub, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, Nov 2004.
O'Neill, CJ, 2004. Selection box, Triangle centre, Manchester, Nov 2004.
O'Neill, CJ, 2003. 100% Design, Earls Court, London, Sept 2003.
O'Neill, CJ, 2003. Chintz, Made, Bristol, 2003.
O'Neill, CJ, 2003. Domestic Bliss, The Pea Rooms, Lincolnshire, 2003.
O'Neill, CJ, 2003. In the Making, FAD, Placa Del Angels, Barcelona, Spain, August 2003.
O'Neill, CJ, 2002. 100% Design with Design Initiative, Earls Court, London, Sept 2002.
O'Neill, CJ, 2002. House, Urbis, Manchester, Nov 2002 - Jan 2003.
O'Neill, CJ, 2001. 100% Design with Design Initiative, Earls Court, London, Sept 2001.
Artefacts
O'Neill, C.J., 2019. 'Clay Networks: connecting to others through making, mapping and combination', Stoke-On-Trent and Cardiff.
O'Neill, C. J., 2013. 'Absent Presence', I continue to explore the domestic plate, absent from the place of exhibition. Using given fragments of pattern from the space in combination with used plates, reductive and additive processing reveals some of the latent possibilities resting here., Museum of Architecture and Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 19th September - 3rd December 2013.
O'Neill, C. J., 2010. 'Collection from The Pol Project', Series of ceramic items decorated with hand cut transfers made in response to the filming of 'Entry' a film by Amanda Ravetz., Arts Reverie, Dahl ni Pol, Ahmedabad, as part of Ahmedabad International Arts Festival 2010, October 2010.
O'Neill, C. J., 2008. 'Kirkens Project artefacts', Upcycled ceramic pieces decorated with hand cut transfers, Guldagergaard, Nov 2008.
O'Neill, CJ, 2006. 'Feeding Desire tableware collection', waterjet cut and laser marked vintage plates, 100% Design, The In Show, Design UK at Liberty, HauteGREEN.
O'Neill, CJ, 2006. 'Solas lights - Feeding Desire collection', bone china wall lights with decoration in gold, black and orange, 100% Design, The In Show, Make Me, Hub.
O'Neill, CJ, 2006. 'There's a buzz about the place', vintage plate with decoration in gold and printed bees.
O'Neill, CJ, 2005. 'New Heirlooms', vintage tableware altered with handcut transfer decoration, Guldagergaard, Grimmerhus, 100% Design, The Lighthouse.
O'Neill, CJ, 2004. 'Solas installation - Andor Technology, Belfast', large installation of wall lights with colour changing LED light source., Andor Technology, Belfast, permanent.
O'Neill, CJ, 2002. 'Lighting installation - Manchester Art Gallery', lighting pieces for restaurant and cafe, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, permanent.
Books
Roth, Manuela, 2008. 'Ecological Design', Teneues.
Gestalten, 2008. 'Fragiles; Ceramics and Glass', Gestalaten, Berlin, Germany.
Design Boom, 2008. 'Handled with care', DesignBoom, Amsterdam.
Twomey, Claire, 2007. 'Breaking the Mould: New directions in ceramics'.
Quinn, Tony, 2007. 'The ceramic course'.
Reyes, Fabiola, 2007. 'Typo', Monsa, Barcelona.
Book Chapters
O'Neill, C.J., Ravetz, A., 2012. 'Expanded Craft, Dispersed Creativity: A South Asian Residency'. In Collaboration Through Craft, Berg.
Journal Articles
Mayo, N., O'Neill, C.J., 2023. 'Flightlines: conversations about life with clay', NCECA Journal, 43, pp. 158-161.
O'Neill, C.J., 2016. 'Matching Process to Design', Ceramics Monthly, February 2016.
O'Neill, C. J., 2012. 'The Plate Experiment', Ceramic Review, Issue 257 September/October 2012.
O'Neill, C.J., 2012. 'The Plate Experiment', Ceramic Review, 257, pp. 56-57.
Blakey, S., 2011. 'A Lull in the Conversation', Ceramic Review, Issue 249, Page 50.
O'Neill, CJ, Tina Byrne, 2009. 'Profile of an Irish maker abroad, Ceramics Ireland', Ceramics Ireland.
Conference Papers
O'Neill, C.J., Mayo, N., 2023. 'Flightlines: Lives lived with clay', International Ceramics Festival 2023, University of Aberystwyth, 30/6/2023 - 2/7/2023.
Presentations
O'Neill, C. J., 2017. 'The Reader', Ceramic Values Congress, British Ceramics Biennial at Spode, Stoke-On-Trent, 5-6 Oct 2017.
O'Neill, C. J., 2016. 'Collaborative Value', SAAG conference, Manchester School of Art, 27 March 2014.
O'Neill, C. J., 2014. 'Reflections on the Handmade', South Asian Arts Group annual forum, Manchester School of Art, 27th March 2014.
O'Neill, C. J., Dixon, Stephen, 2010. 'collaboration within manchester school of art', collaboration - research in ceramics now, University of Westminster, 23rd June 2010.
O'Neill, C. J., 2010. 'The social value of craft and what it means', Assemble, St Lukes, London, 22nd June 2010.
O'Neill, CJ, 2009. 'CJ O'Neill: ceramic practice', Kilkenny Arts Festival, Castle Yard Galleries, Kilkenny, 9th August 2009.
O'Neill, CJ, 2009. 'Graffiti*d: A British Ceramics Biennial commission', Ceramic City: Design for Public Space in conjunction with Art and Architecture Journal, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-On-Trent, 9/10 October 2009.
Other Outputs
O'Neill, C. J., 2011. 'Collaborations, Creativity and Value', Collaborative paper with Amanda Ravetz.
O'Neill, CJ, 2008. 'Award III', Invited artist in residence, Guldagergaard, Denmark.
O'Neill, CJ, 2008. 'Re-fired ceramics', Workshop for the Crafts Council with a group decorating vintage pieces.
O'Neill, CJ, 2008. 'Solas Gold rose lights for Manoush stores internationally', Bone china wall lights with real gold decoration in rose pattern.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. 'Design Camp residency', Group of designers invited to Ahmedebad to work with skilled artisans on development of new products.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. 'Invited member of board of directors of Manchester Craft & Design centre'.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. 'selected member of Crafts Council of Ireland'.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. 'Solas Gold installation for The Regent, London', Bone china wall lights with gold leaf decoration.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. 'Solas Gold wall lights for Luisance, Casablanca, Morocco', Bone china wall lights with gold leaf decoration.
O'Neill, CJ, 2007. 'Solas wall lights for private residence, Norway', bone china wall lights with decoration in gold, black and orange.
O'Neill, CJ, 2006. 'ELLE Decoration Design Awards: shortlisted for Lighting'.
O'Neill, CJ, 2006. 'Solas Gold wall lights for SushiCo Pera, Istanbul, Turkey', bone china wall lights with gold leaf decoration.
O'Neill, CJ, 2005. 'Storytelling and Poetry residency', selected residency in the International Ceramic research centre developing new work.
O'Neill, CJ, 2002. 'selected member of Design Nation'.
O'Neill, CJ, 2001. 'selected member of Crafts Council photostore'.