The University of the West of England and the Spike Island Fellowship was established to encourage new artists within Bristol

Mikelis Fisers was the recipient of the Visiting Arts Fellowship for 2002. He was born in Riga in 1970 and studied at the Latvian Academy of Art where he completed a masters degree in monumental painting in 1995

In 2002 nearly 200 artists working in a range of media including painting, sculpture, printmaking, moving image and installation opened their studios to the public. Spike Open is a great opportunity to see behind the closed doors of the artists’ production spaces, take a closer look at what’s being made, and meet the artists.

Alex Frost, recipient of the South West Arts residency for 2002 presented an exhibition of new work for Spike Island.

Curated by smith + fowle, Shelf Life was a collaboration between Gasworks Gallery, London and Spike Island, Bristol.