Currently living in Shanghai, China. Originally from Stafford, UK.

I am a freelance curator and writer where theoretical research lies in the domain of East and South Asian contemporary art and curatorial practices, and East-West cultural studies. Current PhD studies at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD), UK, in association with the Centre for Chinese Visual Arts (CCVA), investigates the role and definition of the “Transcultural Curator” and transcultural curatorial practices, specifically in relation to the translation and interpretation of contemporary Chinese art in the West since 1980.

I am currently Coordinator for the Centre for Chinese Visual Arts (CCVA), and Course Leader in Visual Arts at the Academy of International Visual Arts (AIVA), Shanghai. Recently, I have worked in arts marketing, education and outreach, and curating at Wolverhampton Art Gallery (UK), and been Visiting Lecturer in Fine Art and Photography at Loughborough University (UK), and the University of Wolverhampton (UK) respectively. As an arts writer, I contribute to ’a-n Magazine’ (UK), ‘Bird’s Nest: Ai Weiwei in English (aiwwenglish.tumblr.com)’, ‘Randian (randian-online.com)’, and ‘Art Radar Asia (artradarjournal.com)’.
 
In addition, I am a text and book artist, book-binder and paper-maker who, through the use of text, photographic documentation and interactive audience participation, investigates notions of archiving, repetitious actions, such as typing and printing, lexicality and translation, by exploring the role of the artist as a curator, and participants as collaborators. I facilitate creative children’s and adult workshops in regional and national art museums and galleries in the UK and worldwide.

Read my blog http://rachelmarsdenwords.wordpress.com

Website http://www.rachelmarsden.co.uk (Under construction)

Follow me on Twitter @rachmarsden