Michael Borkowsky
Speculative Studios

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PREVIEW | PERFORMANCE
Friday 10th June | 7.30pm – 9.30pm

  • Saturday 11th June | 2pm – 4pm
    Sunday 12th June | 2pm – 4pm
    Monday 13th June | 11am – 2pm
    Saturday 18th June | 2pm – 4pm
    Sunday 19th June | 2pm – 4pm
    Monday 20th June | 11am – 2pm

  • Michael Borkowsky (b. Shrewsbury, 1986) grew up in Telford, Shropshire and later studied Fine Art at the University of Chester. Initially a painter, he later developed an interest in the role of painters and began working with both painting and installation.

    While studying an MA in Fine Art at Gyndwr University, Wrexham, he became interested in representing scent in work alongside a furthered investigation into the roles and perceptions of artists. In 2012 he moved to Sheffield where he has been based ever since.

    His solo exhibitions include shows at Yorkshire Artspace, KIAC and Access Space, Sheffield. His involvement in group exhibitions includes devising and curating shows at Exchange Place Studios and Millennium Galleries, Sheffield. Other group exhibitions include shows at Huddersfield Media Centre, Tate Liverpool, Arena Gallery Liverpool and The Crypt Gallery, London. He has also exhibited in 5 international group shows.

    Perfume as Practice looks at the craft of perfumery and how it can be used as a platform for portraiture. Perfume as Practice has taken the guise of solo exhibitions at Bank Street Arts, Sheffield and Surface gallery, Nottingham as well as a residency at Orchard Square, Sheffield. Other olfactive endeavours include a scent trail housed at The Tetley in 2016 and perfume making workshops that Michael stages across the UK.


  • Saturday 11th June | 2pm

A Walk Through Speculative Spaces Essay

Speculative Studios by Sheffield based artist Michael Borkowsky takes an artists' exhibition piece and questions how they arrived at their final idea. Through the construction of an installation that takes the outward appearance of another artist’s studio, Borkowsky looks at the notion of assumed identity and the implications of this surrounding ownership, authorship and the maintenance of public perception.

Speculative Studio Spaces opens up a highly personal aspect of artistic practice and offers the audience an opportunity to engage with the processes behind production.