Chris Bird studied Applied Biological Sciences BSC at Leeds University. He started his career as a VJ from 1991 onwards and then worked as a show designer and technical consultant for artists such as the Pet Shop Boys, the Prodigy, and Nine Inch Nails before meeting fellow UVA founder Matt Clark and working on Leftfield’s ‘Rhythm and Stealth’ tour in 2002. Chris co-founded UVA in 2003.
Founded by Chris Bird, Matt Clark and Ash Nehru in 2003, United Visual Artists (UVA) is a London based art and design practice. Their work spans architectural and responsive installations, live performance and public art. Research and development is core to their process enabling them to constantly explore new fields as well as re-examine more established ones.
UVA’s work is about social experience, turning the audience into active participants. The relationship between space, the performer and the audience is at the heart of UVA’s practice.
They created The V&A and Sony Playstation commission ‘Volume’ which was the first major commission for the museum’s John Madejski Garden and the work is currently touring internationally. ‘Volume’ won the D&AD yellow pencil in 2007 for interactive installation and featured in the ‘Designs of The Year 2008’ show at the Design Museum, London.
In 2008 they were shortlisted for the Darwin bicentenary commission at the Natural History Museum, London. UVA have been selected to create two major new public art commissions for Maple Leaf Square in Toronto, Canada.
