I’ve worked with Phoenix for many years as an independent artist, technologist, and exhibition curator, and events organiser – my first Phoenix digital arts event was in 2005 at the ‘old Phoenix’ on Upper Brown Street.

Over the past two decades, my creative interests have evolved, but my belief that artists can help us understand technological innovation and imagine future possibilities remains constant. I’ve personally created artworks using ‘new’ technologies like the internet, video links, webcams, mobile apps, and touchscreens. I’ve also been interested in how other artists engage with new technology, some of these innovations have come and gone, while others have become integral to our world.

Since early 2023, I’ve curated small print-based exhibitions of work by historic and contemporary computer and digital artists for Phoenix’s Café Bar. As Chair of the BCS Computer Arts Society and Director of the Computer Arts Archive CIC, I’ve selected work to demonstrate innovative computer-based art and reflect on the approaches of past artists.

For the autumn season, I’ve been invited to select work for the Café Bar and install a full exhibition in the main gallery. This gives us a bigger canvas to produce an enlightening programme.

It starts with a Café Bar exhibition by Sean Carroll for the Computer Arts Society, which explores the Society’s radical past and uses Artificial Intelligence in its development.

On 19 September, we launch a major new gallery show about the pioneering computational artist Sue Gollifer, featuring rare original printed artworks and explores some of her experiences as a female artist in the male-dominated computer art world of the 1970s and 1980s. Then in October, there will be a new collection of artworks by Ernest Edmonds and Jonathan Knoblauch in the Café Bar that makes use of quantum computers, one of the most exciting areas of current technological development.

There’ll also be talks and workshops related to the exhibitions. Check the Phoenix website for the latest details.

Dr Sean Clark
Interact Digital Arts
www.interactdigitalarts.uk

The latest information about the autumn Phoenix digital arts programme can be found on the Phoenix website. We are hoping to add some more participation activities, such as workshops and artist talks.

• August - 30th September 2025. Listen, Scoundrels! A Computer Arts Society Exhibition. Curated by Sean Carroll. Phoenix Café Bar. FREE.

• 19th September 2025 - 11th January 2026. Sue Gollifer Retrospective. Phoenix Gallery. FREE.

• 22nd September 6:30pm. Meet the Cutators: A Discussion Hosted by Sean Clark. FREE.

• 2nd October -  4th January 2026. Ernest Edmonds and Jonathan Knoblauch: Quantum Computing Art. Phoenix Café Bar, FREE.

• 9th October 2025. 6:30pm. Sue Gollifer Exhibition Opening Evening. Booking TBC.

In addition to the Phoenix Leicester exhibitions and events this autumn, the Computer Arts Society has organised several exhibitions and opening talks at the BCS Moorgate offices in London. Visit the Computer Arts Society website for the most up-to-date information.

• 4th September - 9th December 2025. Marcus West Restrospective. BCS Moorgate. FREE.

• 17th September 2025 - 28th February 2026. Drivers: Computer Arts Society Committee Exhibition. FREE.

• 17th September 2025. 6pm. Marcus West and Drivers Opening. FREE. Book Here.

• 9th December 2020- 28th February 2026. Computational Constructs. BCS Moorgate. FREE.

• 9th December 2025. 6pm. CAS AGM and Computational Constructs Opening. FREE.. Booking TBC.