Meet the team
Tessa Giblin
Director
Tessa Giblin joined Talbot Rice Gallery as Director in November 2016. She was Commissioner and Curator of Ireland at the Venice Biennale 2017, with the artist Jesse Jones. From 2006 – 2016 she was Curator of Visual Arts at Project Arts Centre, Dublin. In 2015 she was Guest Curator of the steirischer herbst festival exhibition, Graz, Austria, where she presented the group exhibition ‘Hall of Half-Life‘ over four venues. At Project Arts Centre she curated numerous solo and group exhibitions, including ‘Riddle of the Burial Grounds‘ which toured to Extra City Kunsthal, Antwerp in 2016, and made commissioning new work a hallmark of her exhibitions. Tessa Giblin now lives in Edinburgh with her family. She was raised in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Director
Tessa Giblin joined Talbot Rice Gallery as Director in November 2016. She was Commissioner and Curator of Ireland at the Venice Biennale 2017, with the artist Jesse Jones. From 2006 – 2016 she was Curator of Visual Arts at Project Arts Centre, Dublin. In 2015 she was Guest Curator of the steirischer herbst festival exhibition, Graz, Austria, where she presented the group exhibition ‘Hall of Half-Life‘ over four venues. At Project Arts Centre she curated numerous solo and group exhibitions, including ‘Riddle of the Burial Grounds‘ which toured to Extra City Kunsthal, Antwerp in 2016, and made commissioning new work a hallmark of her exhibitions. Tessa Giblin now lives in Edinburgh with her family. She was raised in Christchurch, New Zealand.
James Clegg
Curator
email: james.clegg@ed.ac.uk
tel: +44 (0)131 650 2211
James joined Talbot Rice Gallery in 2010. Working on the development of exhibitions - from their inception through to delivery - he is involved in all aspects of the Gallery's creative programme. He also organises the Outreach and Widening Participation programme, working with schools, prisons and those affected by homelessness. James has led on a number of exhibitions since 2014, including John Akomfrah's 'Vertigo Sea' and Stephen Sutcliffe's 'Sex Symbols in Sandwich Signs' and 'Pine's Eye' - a major group show exploring how ecological thinking might positively transform our sense of being human.
Curator
email: james.clegg@ed.ac.uk
tel: +44 (0)131 650 2211
James joined Talbot Rice Gallery in 2010. Working on the development of exhibitions - from their inception through to delivery - he is involved in all aspects of the Gallery's creative programme. He also organises the Outreach and Widening Participation programme, working with schools, prisons and those affected by homelessness. James has led on a number of exhibitions since 2014, including John Akomfrah's 'Vertigo Sea' and Stephen Sutcliffe's 'Sex Symbols in Sandwich Signs' and 'Pine's Eye' - a major group show exploring how ecological thinking might positively transform our sense of being human.
Stuart Fallon
Assistant Curator
email: stuart.fallon@ed.ac.uk
tel: +44 (0)131 651 4784
Stuart joined Talbot Rice Gallery in 2012, becoming Assistant Curator in November 2014. He has led on the Gallery's emerging artist programmes TRG3 and Talbot Rice Projects and now oversees Talbot Rice Residents, a five year programme to support emerging artist practice in Scotland. In 2017, Stuart led on TRG's partnership with Alchemy Film and Arts on Scotland + Venice with Rachel Maclean's 'Spite Your Face' and curated its UK premiere exhibition at Talbot Rice Gallery in February 2018. In addition to this, Stuart is responsible for the Gallery's design and communications.
Assistant Curator
email: stuart.fallon@ed.ac.uk
tel: +44 (0)131 651 4784
Stuart joined Talbot Rice Gallery in 2012, becoming Assistant Curator in November 2014. He has led on the Gallery's emerging artist programmes TRG3 and Talbot Rice Projects and now oversees Talbot Rice Residents, a five year programme to support emerging artist practice in Scotland. In 2017, Stuart led on TRG's partnership with Alchemy Film and Arts on Scotland + Venice with Rachel Maclean's 'Spite Your Face' and curated its UK premiere exhibition at Talbot Rice Gallery in February 2018. In addition to this, Stuart is responsible for the Gallery's design and communications.
Melissa MacRobert
Exhibitions Manager
email: melissa.macrobert@ed.ac.uk
tel: +44 (0)131 651 4540
Melissa joined Talbot Rice Gallery in April 2018. With a background in project management and artist liaison, she previously worked with The Modern Institute, Glasgow and Hauser & Wirth, London. Melissa works with the Director of Talbot Rice Gallery to manage the operational, strategic and creative activities of the gallery to meet commitments to the University, funders, artists and audiences. Responsibilities include: project-managing exhibitions and touring; financial management and fundraising and income generation.
Exhibitions Manager
email: melissa.macrobert@ed.ac.uk
tel: +44 (0)131 651 4540
Melissa joined Talbot Rice Gallery in April 2018. With a background in project management and artist liaison, she previously worked with The Modern Institute, Glasgow and Hauser & Wirth, London. Melissa works with the Director of Talbot Rice Gallery to manage the operational, strategic and creative activities of the gallery to meet commitments to the University, funders, artists and audiences. Responsibilities include: project-managing exhibitions and touring; financial management and fundraising and income generation.
Colm Clarke
Gallery Technician
email: colm.clarke@ed.ac.uk
tel: +44(0)131 651 4547
Colm joined Talbot Rice Gallery in November 2018. Colm served as Lead Art Technician at The MAC in Belfast before coming to Edinburgh with his family. As Gallery Technician Colm brings his specialist technical knowledge and skills to facilitate the planning, design, production and delivery of TRG’s exhibition programme.
Gallery Technician
email: colm.clarke@ed.ac.uk
tel: +44(0)131 651 4547
Colm joined Talbot Rice Gallery in November 2018. Colm served as Lead Art Technician at The MAC in Belfast before coming to Edinburgh with his family. As Gallery Technician Colm brings his specialist technical knowledge and skills to facilitate the planning, design, production and delivery of TRG’s exhibition programme.
Vira Putri
Gallery Assistant
email: vira.putri@ed.ac.uk
tel: +44(0)131 651 4546
Vira Putri joined Talbot Rice Gallery in July 2021. Vira recently graduated from the Edinburgh College of Art studying both Art and History of Art with an interest in contemporary art. She has worked at several art institutions in both Edinburgh and Jakarta, having also volunteered at Talbot Rice Gallery for over a year. As Gallery Assistant, Vira provides administrative support and Front of House support for the gallery. She also contributes to widening participation, event management and volunteer coordination.
Gallery Assistant
email: vira.putri@ed.ac.uk
tel: +44(0)131 651 4546
Vira Putri joined Talbot Rice Gallery in July 2021. Vira recently graduated from the Edinburgh College of Art studying both Art and History of Art with an interest in contemporary art. She has worked at several art institutions in both Edinburgh and Jakarta, having also volunteered at Talbot Rice Gallery for over a year. As Gallery Assistant, Vira provides administrative support and Front of House support for the gallery. She also contributes to widening participation, event management and volunteer coordination.
Monika Stepanikova
Front of House Assistant
email: Monika.Stepanikova@ed.ac.uk
tel: +44(0)131 651 4356
Monika joined Talbot Rice Gallery as the Front of House Assistant in June 2022. Born and raised in Alberta, Canada, she now calls Edinburgh home. She graduated with a Msc. in Modern and Contemporary Art History from the Edinburgh College of Art in 2021 during which time volunteered at Talbot Rice Gallery for the Spring/ Summer exhibition 'The Normal'. As Front of House Assistant, Monika helps managing the volunteer team and supports Front of House and administration at the gallery.
Front of House Assistant
email: Monika.Stepanikova@ed.ac.uk
tel: +44(0)131 651 4356
Monika joined Talbot Rice Gallery as the Front of House Assistant in June 2022. Born and raised in Alberta, Canada, she now calls Edinburgh home. She graduated with a Msc. in Modern and Contemporary Art History from the Edinburgh College of Art in 2021 during which time volunteered at Talbot Rice Gallery for the Spring/ Summer exhibition 'The Normal'. As Front of House Assistant, Monika helps managing the volunteer team and supports Front of House and administration at the gallery.