Biography

Jo Pickering graduated in 1998 from Sheffield Hallam University’s -groundbreaking for its time- Fine Art, Combined and Media Studies course, with a 2:1 BA Hons and first for artistic practice.  Working with video, photography, and digital mediums as well as performance, she subsequently exhibited multi-media works internationally from Tokyo to Peckham during 1998 – 2004, and was a finalist in The Photographers’ Gallery new talent competition in 2001.  In 2004 her hour-long video piece for Rawhead Dance Theatre was projected alongside the performance at the Place and Cochrane Theatres, London.  At the turn of the millennium, Pickering undertook an MA in Art Theory at Chelsea College of Art Design; exploring both the critical context for fine art practice, and writing as artistic practice in itself.  Following this theoretical turn she began lecturing in Cultural and Historical Studies at the University of the Arts London.  Whilst there she was made a fellow of the Higher Education Academy, gained a Post Graduate certificate in Learning and Teaching in Art and Design and was made senior lecturer whilst running the Fashion Access programme.  In 2017 Pickering was appointed as Research Tutor in Critical and Historical Studies at the Royal College of Art.  She is currently conducting a class analysis of bodybuilding and local gym cultures as a PhD candidate at Sussex University.  Pickering’s research specialism sits in the intersection of class, the body and performance.

Additionally Jo is an expert on early to mid-twentieth century popular music and dance, especially Jazz, Charleston and Swing.  She is a founding member of The Bee’s Knees (est. 2004) (“London’s premiere 1920s dance squadron” The Telegraph), and has performed and taught all over the world in this capacity.  She has appeared as a specialist Disc Jockey at many music events since 2001 playing at venues such as, The Royal Albert Hall, Glastonbury Festival and The Brits Awards, and for artists such as Eartha Kitt and Paloma Faith.