Charlie Fitz’s work draws on medical humanities research and her lived experience of illness and trauma in her visual art and storytelling. Her work aims to conceptualise and create representations of lived experiences of chronic illness. In turn, Fitz explores narratives of illness, the damaging cultural legacy of hysteria and the language and aesthetic of illness. Predominantly Fitz's work explores the self, traversing digital and tactile forms, such as photography, film, collage, painting and textiles.

In this informal session Fitz will discuss how her roles as an artist, medical humanities researcher and patient/sick person intersect through a presentation of her mixed media work and art practice. She will discuss how theories, thinker's and artists have influenced her creative practice such as the work of Havi Carel, Donna Harraway, Michel Foucault, Arthur Frank, Johanna Hedva and Jo Spence.

The presentation will argue for the legitimation of unconventional types of knowledge and research methods. lt will address issues of objectivity, epistemic injustice, the legitimation of knowledge and the limitations of language and representation. The presentation will be followed by an open discussion on the subject in which participants are encouraged to share their thoughts on the presentation.

Bio:

Charlie Fitz (she/her/they) is a UK based sick, disabled and neurodivergent self-taught artist, arts practitioner, writer and medical humanities postgraduate at Birkbeck, where she is a recipient of a Wellcome Trust studentship. Her work-in-progress Wellcome funded thesis explores a concept she has named 'the pharmakon of sick and wounded women'; as explored through illness and trauma memoirs. Her art draws on her academic research and her personal experience of illness, disability, trauma and care.

Fitz has been exhibiting her work in group shows since 2019 and has exhibited in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cincinnati, and online. Most notably showing work in the Shape Arts Open, at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and The British Museum. Most recently becoming the artist in residence for Photoworks X Ampersand and becoming the recipient of a micro-commission from the Collaborative Touring Network and Unlimited, in association with Touretteshero.

Fitz is also a co-founding member of Resting Up Collective and a co-director of the remote artist studio TRIAD3. As a freelancer who lives and works mostly from a bed, finding online communities based in solidarity, care and information sharing has been her lifeline.

Instagram & Twitter: @charliejlfitz
www.charliefitzartist.co.uk
charliefitzartist@gmail.com