FROM VIENNA to Cardiff, Professor Sue Williams is showcasing her work through six major exhibitions and publications this summer while helping shape the next generation of Welsh artists through her teaching and her appointment as a selector for the Swansea Open 2026.
Professor Williams, Programme Manager of Fine Art: Studio, Site & Context at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Swansea College of Art, is representing Wales on an international stage this summer through six major exhibitions and publications, while also taking on a key role as a selector for the prestigious Swansea Open 2026.
Her outstanding programme of activity reflects both her international reputation as one of Wales’ leading contemporary artists and the value of students learning from academics who are actively shaping the creative industries. Through exhibiting, publishing and collaborating with artists and curators across the UK and internationally, Professor Williams brings first-hand professional experience, global networks and current industry knowledge directly into the classroom.
Originally from Cornwall, Professor Williams has lived and worked in Wales for more than 20 years and has built an exhibition history spanning five continents. Rooted in autoethnography, her practice combines drawing and text to explore the complexities of human relationships, sexuality, intimacy and emotional experience, offering an unflinching examination of human vulnerability.
Her contribution to contemporary art has been recognised through numerous honours, including the Gold Medal for Fine Art at the National Eisteddfod, the Rootstein Hopkins Foundation Award for Painting and selection for the shortlist of the internationally renowned Artes Mundi Prize in 2006.
This summer, her work features in a diverse programme of exhibitions and collaborative projects. These include The Female Gaze in Vienna, exploring female perspectives and representation; OH BONDAGE! UP YOURS! at TEN Gallery, Cardiff, where female artists respond to feminism, identity and contemporary misogyny; and Agor Llyfr // Open a Book at Capel Bethel, Cwmrheidol, which transforms a historic chapel into a library of artists’ books and book-inspired works.
Professor Williams has also contributed to The Future Present is Here, an ambitious publication conceived by North Wales artist-curator Nick Davies. Bringing together 52 messages to the future from artists and cultural practitioners, the project creates a thought-provoking time capsule of contemporary creative thinking.
Her summer programme also includes exhibitions connected to both the National Eisteddfod and Craft Festival Wales in Cardigan, reflecting her continued commitment to supporting and celebrating Wales’ vibrant visual arts community.
Alongside her exhibition programme, Professor Williams has been appointed as one of the selectors for the Swansea Open 2026, one of the region’s most significant open exhibitions. The role will see her help identify and champion emerging and established artistic talent from across Wales and beyond.
For students at Swansea College of Art, Professor Williams’ continued professional practice provides an invaluable connection to today’s art world. Her experience of developing exhibitions, collaborating with curators and producing new work ensures students benefit from insights that are current, relevant and grounded in professional practice.
Professor Williams said: “Maintaining an active practice is fundamental to my involvement with our students.
“It allows me to bring current experiences, challenges and opportunities directly into teaching, helping students understand not only materials, concepts and process, but how artists navigate the professional world.
“The relationship between practice and teaching is mutually enriching, and students benefit from being part of those ongoing conversations.”
Caroline Thraves, Academic Director of Art and Media, said: “By continuing to exhibit internationally while leading one of Wales’ most respected Fine Art programmes, Professor Williams exemplifies the role of the artist-educator.
“Her achievements reinforce Swansea College of Art’s commitment to ensuring students learn from practitioners who are actively shaping contemporary culture, providing an educational experience that is informed, relevant and connected to the wider creative industries.”
