About
Thomas Griffiths (Bolton, 1993), is a recently graduated artist based in Sheffield. Influenced by industrial artefacts and public/hidden spaces, their practice reimagines and reinscribes commonplace objects and symbols with unexpected interpretations. Through playful use of materiality and symbolism, the work aims to infiltrate and divert attention towards the overlooked, highlighting nuances of working-class culture and queer identity. Sensual-yet-gauche representations combine with tongue-in-cheek humour to convey these narratives.
Alongside their artistic practice, they are a co-director and curator of GLOAM, an artist-led grassroots gallery and studio space, Sheffield.
Education
Manchester School of Art, Fine Art MFA, Distinction, 2024
Manchester School of Art, Fine Art MA, Distinction, 2023
Manchester School of Art, Fine Art MA, Distinction, 2023
School of the Damned, 2020-2022
Sheffield Hallam University, Fine Art BA (HONS), First Class, 2016
Sheffield Hallam University, Fine Art BA (HONS), First Class, 2016
Recent Exhibitions & Residencies
2025
Bloc Projects, Jammyboree, Sheffield
2024
YAS: Persistence Works, Autumn Almanac IV, Sheffield
Manchester School of Art, MFA Fine Art Degree Show
Yorkshire Artspace, Testing Ground, Sheffield
Sunny Bank Mills, Ones to Watch, Farsley
Yorkshire Artspace, Testing Ground, Sheffield
Sunny Bank Mills, Ones to Watch, Farsley
Jubilee Library & Museum, The Queer Beach, Brighton
Manchester School of Art, MA Fine Art Degree Show
2023
Manchester School of Art, MA Fine Art Degree Show
2023
Serf, Testing Ground, Leeds
The Old Parcel Office, Pride & Joy, Scarborough
Air Gallery Open 2023, Air Gallery, Altrincham
K House, The Build Up, Manchester
East Side Projects, If it Thunders on All Fools Day, Birmingham
Two Queens, GLOAM Members Show, Leicester
2022
Bloc Projects, Summer Intensive Residency, Sheffield
Air Gallery, ALPHA, Altrincham
The Function Suite, Hackney Den, London
WDT, 2:5, Virtual Exhibition
2021
Turf Projects, SOTD, Warning Bells, London
General Practice, Fallow, Lincoln
Set Studios Woolwich, SOTD Open Studios, London
Abingdon Studios, SHORT SUPPLY, Three’s a Crowd, Blackpool
The Function Suite, SOTD, Scheeming, Stratford, London
STAYCONNECTED, INNER-CITY OUT OF PLACE, Virtual Exhibition Space
WET PRODUCTIONS & DOVETAIL JOINTS, WDT 1-3, WETDOVETAIL VIRTUAL GALLERY
Curatorial Projects
GLOAM,To Rest Amongst The Blades, Abi Charlesworth, 2025 (Upcoming - 4th April)
GLOAM, Embers, Group Exhibition, 2024
GLOAM, Embers, Group Exhibition, 2024
GLOAM, Tread Softly, Group Exhibition, 2023
GLOAM, Welcome to Map Making Guild of Drystone Walling One-Eyed Giants, Dale Holmes, 2023
GLOAM, Undress me with your eyes..., Nisa Khan, 2023
Bloc Projects, Figureheads: Members show, by guest selectors GLOAM, 2022
Bloc Projects, Figureheads: Members show, by guest selectors GLOAM, 2022
GLOAM, Beneath the Pewter Sky, Group Show, 2022
GLOAM, Blood from a Stone, SOTD, 2021
Press & Publications
‘Untitled’ Ghostwatch fanzine, 2023
Haus A Rest, 2022
NOWADAYS, 2021
ARTISTS NEWSLETTER https://www.a-n.co.uk/an40 2021
LONELY BOY, 2020
Talks and Seminars
Castlefield Gallery, Conversations with History: Past, Present and Futures of Manchester’s Art Ecology. Chaired by Danielle Child, with guest speakers Yuen Fong Ling, Rachel Goodyear, Jo McGonigal & Kay Shah
YAS X WCCD, The intersection of queer and working-class identities
Awards
GLOAM, Henry Moore Grant, 2025
Axis Bursary – Round 4, 2025
GLOAM, Sheffield City Council (SCC), 2023
GLOAM, Arts Council England (ACE), Grants for the Arts, 2022.
Axis Bursary – Round 4, 2025
GLOAM, Sheffield City Council (SCC), 2023
GLOAM, Arts Council England (ACE), Grants for the Arts, 2022.
YSI: Yorkshire Sculpture Network, 2022
GLOAM, Arts Council England (ACE), Grants for the Arts, 2020
GLOAM, Arts Council England (ACE), Grants for the Arts, 2020
GLOAM, Sheffield City Council (SCC), 2020
Best in Show, Degree Show Award, 2016
S1 Artspace Bursary Award, 2016
Bloc Projects Graduate Award, 2016