Thomas Abercromby is a visual artist and curator based between Norway and the UK. He holds a BA in contemporary art practice from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design. Central to both his studio and curatorial practice is the exploration of how micro-utopias can be created, spotlighting underrepresented histories and contemporary narratives that challenge and critique prevailing power structures within Western society.
With prior roles at institutions like the Centre for Contemporary Art Glasgow (2019-2020) and Glasgow Sculpture Studios (2021-2022), he now holds the position of Associate Curator at Grand Union Gallery in Birmingham, where he spearheads the School of Abolition Programme. The school employs a pedagogical framework to delve into the connection between abolition work and the visual arts. Concurrently, he is working on a collaborative two-year research project with the artistic collective the School of Mutants as part of Glasgow International 2024. The project draws inspiration from Senegalese filmmaker and writer Ousmane Sembène’s 1960 novel “God’s Bits of Wood” and seeks to delve into the intertwined narratives of colonialism, extraction, labour, and class struggle between Dakar and Glasgow.
His collaborative approach has led to fruitful partnerships with various cultural organisations, including Goldsmiths CCA, Lux, Mount Stuart, Glasgow International, The British Council, Glasgow School of Art, and Raw Material Company. Notable projects he has been involved in include The School of Abolition, You’re Never Done, The Glasgow Seed Library, and The School for Civic Imagination.
