Helen Hamilton’s practice explores ideas around animacy, objecthood, and embodiment. Much of her research is based in material culture studies and object-oriented ontology, with a particular interest in actor-network theory and the writings of Bruno Latour. Her work explores not just how we respond to objects but also how they respond back to us, with a particular interest in ‘thingliness’ and the distinction between the terms ‘thing’ and ‘object’. What makes a thing a thing, and what makes an object an object? Can something be both?

Hamilton graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2015 with a BA in Fine Art and History of Art and was a member of the 6th cohort of the national Syllabus programme.