Marley Starskey Butler
Artist / Researcher / Social Worker

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Selected Works

2026
Compensare: For the Swallows We Weigh, Eastside Projects
Yuh Nuh, Vivid Projects

2025
Augenblick

2024 
Thirty-Six, Midlands Arts Centre
Anchors, Hospital Rooms
Oh, So Now You Love Us? Eagleworks
Else, Multistory
Us Done Well EP X Warner and Butler

2023
4am

2021
Lemon Tree 
Thank You Music

2020
Black For Ages 
Tower In Memories

In Progress
Access Subject
Zwischen
Selected Ambient Portraits 2018 - 25

The Archives 2004 - 20 (Coming Soon)

PhD

CV

Articles + Features

Contact

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© Rarahdem 2026

b.1987 in Leeds, England

Resides and works in Birmingham, England

via Wolverhampton  and Derby

Solo Exhibitions

2026
Compensare: For the Swallows We Weigh, Eastside Projects, Birmingham, England 

2023/4    
Thirty-Six, Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham, England

Selected Group Exhibitions ​+ Shows

2026
Birmingham Media Archive Project: The First Decade 1982–1992, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Vivid Projects, British Film Institute, Birmingham, England 

2024/25
Reclaiming Narratives: Voices from the College of Medicine and Health, Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham 
Reflector, The New Art Gallery Walsall, Walsall, England

2024 
Incidental Artists: Doings, Eastside Projects, Birmingham, England
Oh, Now You Love Us?, Eagle Works, Wolverhampton, England 

2023
Blast Creative Network, The Wolverhampton School of Art, Wolverhampton, England 
Picturing High Streets, FORMAT International Photography Festival, Derby, England 
Freedom, National Justice Museum, Nottingham, England

2022     
Portrait of Britain, British Journal of Photography, Nationwide - JCDecaux Screen, England 

2021 
Squash The Exhibition (Round Lemon), Birmingham City University, Birmingham, England
East Meets West, FORMAT International Photography Festival, Derby, England 
East Meets West, FORMAT International Photography Festival (Fringe), Virtual Gallery

2020     
New Wave Art, The Viner Gallery, Wolverhampton, England

2019    
Reimagining Soho House, Birmingham Museums Trust / We Don't Settle, Birmingham, England

2017     
Layer Three (Independent), Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham, England 

2010     
Opposites Together Alone (Independent), Déda Dance Centre, Derby, England

Group Publications

2025
Hospital Rooms, Sandwell: A Hospital Rooms Publication, (Feature / Interview)

2024 
Portrait of Britain Vol 7, Bluecoat Press (Photography)
Multistory, The Printing Room, ‘From Where I Speak - Issue 1’, (Art Writing)

2023 
FORMAT International Photography Festival, Exhibition Catalogue, (Photography) 
Nogopress, Flightpath, A Collective Zine (Photography)

2021 
Portrait of Britain, Hoxton Mini Press (Photography)
The Procrastination Paper, Music and Sound Issue 29 (Short Essay)

2020 
East Meets West, Group Publication (Photography)
The Procrastination Paper, All Ages Issues 16 (Poetry)

Education

2026/29 
PhD - Art and Design, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, England 

2013/15   
MA - Social Work, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England 

2006/09 
BA - Cultural Studies and Music Production, University of Derby, Derby, England 
Awards + Grants + Residencies

2026 
Gertrude Aston Bowater PhD Award, England 
Birmingham Media Archive Project: The First Decade, Vivid Projects, Birmingham, England 

2024/25 
Wheatley Fellowship, Birmingham School of Art, Eastside Projects, Birmingham, England 

2023/24   
Reflector Programme, Grain Photography Hub, New Art Gallery Walsall, England

2022    
Blast Creative Network Bursary, Multistory, England 

2021    
Portrait of Britain, British Journal of Photography, England 

2019     
East Meets West Masterclass Programme, Grain Photography Hub, Format, Quad, England
Dartmoor Summer School of Photography, Positive Light Projects, England 

Selected Commissions

2024/25
Eastside Projects x Birmingham City University - Incidental Artist / Wheatley Fellowship, Birmingham 

2023/24
Hospital Rooms - Sandwell CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)

2024
Eagle Works Studios - Dwelling, Wolverhampton 

Guest Speaker ​

2026 
Working Class British Art Network: Who does not envy with us is against us: A conference on working-classness as method in creative practice, (Co Convened by Beth Hugh and Maria Fusco), Performance? 
Eastside Projecs, In-Conversation: How the Swallows Landed, Roundtable Discussion
Brirmingham School of Art, Foundation Programme, Artist Talk
Open School East, Associates Programme, Artist Talk - Workshop
Eastside Projects, Syllabus Programme, Artist Talk. 

2025 
Eastside Projects, The Sculpture x Incidental Artists: Round Table Discussion
Eastside Projects, Incidental Artist, Online Studio Visit 
Central Saint Martins, Better Making - Guest Responder / Panel Discussion
Spike Island, From Public(s) to Civic(s) - Panel Discussion 
Birmingham School of Art, Masters in Arts and Education Practices Cohort - Artist Talk
Birmingham School of Art, Fine Art Degree Cohort - Artist Talk
Birmingham School of Art, Live Projects Module Cohort - Artist Talk 

2024 
Assembly Black Country: Black Box, a-n The Artists Information Co - Roundtable 
Miaaw, Resource Listening - Podcast 
The Wolverhampton School of Art, Fine Art Degree Cohort - Artist Talk 

2023    
The Wolverhampton School of Art, Fine Art Degree Cohort - Artist Talk 

2022     
Learning Lab, Catalysts for Change, Arts, Culture and Engagement in Local Governance

2021    
Newcastle Under-Lyme College, A-Level Photography Cohort - Artist Talk
New Town Culture, Hopeful Disruption, Positive Change in Social Work and Art Roundtable
New Town Culture, Identity and Culture in Social Work (What is Culture?) - Podcast
Midlands Art Papers, Art and Belonging in the West Midland - Roundtable Discussion