About
Joanne Tiffany (she/her) is an artist based in Wakefield currently studying Fine Art at Leeds Beckett University. Her work, from both a political and poetic viewpoint, explores the ‘social contract’, which she defines as socially accepted social norms that we are all bound by. While the social contract purportedly offers benefits for all, it can also serve to restrict personal liberties. This is best exemplified in issues of access which can be infuriatingly restrictive. Tiffany’s work confronts the hypocrisy within this situation and the inherent practices that disadvantage or, worse still, negate certain people or communities. Living with disability and chronic illness, her multi-disciplinary practice, whilst highlighting health and wellbeing, draws primarily but not exclusively upon her own lived personal experience. Her work also expands into history and medical humanities to create various connections.
This can be seen in her work ‘Idle Hands’ (2022), a multi-technique lap blanket encompassing hidden narratives of the history of the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum, originally shown in the exhibition ‘Recollections May Vary’ at the Mental Health Museum, Wakefield (2022), and more recently in the exhibition ‘From My Bed’, White Columns, Leeds (2026) Joanne Tiffany is also an Ambassador for the charities Outside In and In Transit.
Curated Exhibitions
2026 From My Bed: Co-curated with Abbie Bruff - External Link https://whitecolumn.art
2025 Radical Connectedness - External Link https://whitecolumn.art/radical-connectedness
Group Shows
2026 From My Bed - External Link https://whitecolumn.art/joanne-tiffany-1
2026 Big Screen - Leeds School of Arts Short Film. April, outdoor screening of two 60-second films, Leeds and Bradford
2025 Radical Connectedness - External Link Joanne Tiffany — White Column LSA
2025 Big Screen - Leeds School of Arts Short Film. April, outdoor screening of two 60-second films, Leeds and Bradford
2024 Aire Place Studios: ‘Let Us See You’
2024 White Column: ‘This is My Default’ - External Link https://whitecolumn.art/this-is-my-default
2024 R3connect Project - External Link R3connect project – Louisa Peters Research, Pilgrimage - YouTube
St Thomas Centre, Manchester
Left Bank, Leeds
Lawrence Batley Cellar Theatre, Huddersfield
2023 White Column: ‘Xmas Singles’ - External Link https://whitecolumn.art/xmas-classic-singles
2023 Sunny Bank Mills: ‘Ones to Watch’ - External Link Joanne Tiffany - Sunny Bank Mills | Art Gallery & Business Space in Leeds
2022 Henry Moore Institute: Student Takeover - Leeds School of Arts Collaboration
2022 Mental Health Museum: ‘Recollections May Vary’
2022 Media Wall - Leeds School of Arts Short Film Competition. Short films by Leeds Beckett University students of Fine Art, Games Design, and Graphic Design in collaboration with Columbia Threadneedle Investments.
2022 Outside In (Online): Another space with in- External Link https://outsidein.org.uk/exhibition/another-space-within/
Museums
2023 ‘Idle Hand’s’ enshrined in The Mental Health Museum, Wakefield’s collection.
Collaborations & Publications
2026 Zero Plan- March, Issue 27. Zine edition of 30 edited by Alan Dunn; contribution of content on theme of access stickers - External Link https://alandunn67.co.uk/zeroplantwentyseven.html
2025 ‘Suite: Repeat (Revolution)’ Vinyl Installation by Tony Heaton - External Link http://www.tonyheaton.co.uk/mixed-media---film.html
2024 Asylum: the radical mental health magazine- Autumn, Volume 31, Number 3. edited by Hel Spandler- External Link Asylum Magazine (Volume 31, Number 3) - Autumn 2024 - Asylum Magazine
2024 ‘Express Yourself’ Banner and Pride March with CoActive Arts
2024 The Jingle Book - book, edition of 200 published by Bluecoat, edited by Alan Dunn; contribution of creative content on theme of dementia activities - External Link https://alandunn67.co.uk/jinglebook.html
Micro-Commissions
2025 Jason and the Wakefield Adventure: Wakefield Council - External Link https://creativewakefield.net/news/JWM-Micros
Workshops & Teaching
2026 February, Leeds Beckett University: Assisted in the delivery of a group seminar, using a text I selected, with Dr Sean Ashton.
2025 Jason and the Wakefield Adventure & CoActive Arts: Moulded Connections
2024 CoActive Arts: Pride and Protest
2023 Recollections May Vary Legacy Workshop: A Stitch in Time
Professional Appointments
2025 In Transit Ambassador
2022 Outside In Ambassador
Memberships
2023 Working Class Creatives
2022 Outside In
2022 DISrupt
Other
2026 Yorkshire Evening Post - Leeds Beckett students secure Yoko Ono and Mary McCartney artworks for ambitious new exhibition - Andrew Hutchinson article on ‘From My Bed’ exhibition - https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/whats-on/leeds-beckett-students-secure-yoko-ono-and-mary-mccartney-artworks-for-ambitious-new-exhibition-7032359
2026 Leeds Beckett University News - students secure Yoko Ono and Mary McCartney artworks for ambitious new exhibition - University press release about ‘From My Bed’ exhibition - https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/news/2026/04/from-my-bed-exhibition/
2025 Disability Arts Online - Disabled artists make connections in Leeds - Gill Crawshaw Review on ‘Radical Connectedness’ project and Nature Sensory Exhibition - https://disabilityarts.online/blog/gill-crawshaw/disabled-artists-make-connections-in-leeds/
2025 - YVAN Artist Spotlight - https://www.yvan.org.uk/artist-spotlights/joanne-tiffany
External Links
Instagram:
Art: https://www.instagram.com/joanne_tiffany_art/
Photography: https://www.instagram.com/joanne_tiffany_photography/