Senior Lecturer in Fashion & Luxury Business & Management

  • Academic
  • Research
Dr Ram Shergill

Ram Shergill is an interdisciplinary researcher specialising in bio-integrated design, photography, and creative direction. Internationally recognised for his contribution to the fashion industry, Ram has advanced his practice through science, wearable technology and expanded photography. Working in the field of bioastronautics, Shergill is designing novel photobioreactor extensions to the body via biochemical engineering and architectural design.

Bio

Ram Shergill completed his doctoral research at University College London, The Bartlett School of Architecture under the supervision of Professor of innovative environments, Professor Marcos Cruz, and Associate Professor in sustainable bioprocess design Dr. Brenda Parker.

Shergill's thesis title is “Visions of a Critical Posthuman Practice: Embodying Exoskeletal Living Systems (ELS).” Through an interdependent mode of enquiry, he creates novel forms of biogenic architecture constructing a carapace responding to harsher conditions on Earth and beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Using architectural design in combination with biochemical engineering bioregenerative outputs are created, combining human with non-human organisms, innovating a mode of critical posthuman practice. His research explores the present-day body from a new and uncharted viewpoint using advanced apparatus and technologies. Examining forms of sympoietic relationality and material innovation, challenging the perception of the body as a singular cultural agent.

Ram has been a speaker at various conferences internationally including The University of Oxford and The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he has delivered talks on science, art, technology, and the ecological environment. In 2016, Ram was awarded the Arts Culture and Theatre Award (ACTA) for his contribution to the industry. His art and design work has been shown in exhibitions internationally including Sotheby’s, The Wallace Collection, Somerset House, and the Museum of Contemporary Arts (MOCA). Ram Shergill’s portraits of Amy Winehouse are housed in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery. 

Research statement

Ram Shergill’s research sets out to reimagine and redefine the body in an environmentally fragile planet — achieving new aesthetics, evidencing systems and materials which respond to internal and external transformations relating to the human body.

Research Outputs
  • Shergill, R. (2023). Bioregenerative algal architectures. Journal of Chinese Architecture and Urbanism, 5(3).
  • Sumini, V., & Shergill, R. (2022). Beyond the Cradle. Presented at MIT: Beyond the Cradle.
  • Shergill, R., Cruz, M., & Parker, D. B. (2022). Microbial to Tectonic: Explorations of scale in Bio-Integrated Design. Antennae The Journal of Arts and Visual Culture 11, no.2 (2022).
  • Shergill, R., 2022. Photographic regenerative interfaces. Journal of Digital Media Management, 10(3), pp.272-283.
  • Shergill, R. (n.d.). Posthuman Bodying The Birth of a Critical Posthuman Practice presented at MOCA [Exhibition]. 10-Apr-22 - 07-Apr-22.
  • Lessard, C. U. C. L., Etokakpan, R., Martins, J., Menuge, C., Rowe, J., Shergill, R., & Short, M. (2022). Queering the built environment curriculum. In L. Natarajan, M. Short (Eds.), Engaged Urban Pedagogy: Collaborative Inquiry for Planning and Place-Making. London: UCL Press. (book chapter).
  • Parry, N. (2021). Amy Winehouse Beyond Black.
  • Shergill, R. (n.d.). Bedford Square London in Lockdown by Ram Shergill [Exhibition]. 14-Mar-21 - 23-Mar-21.
  • Shergill, R. (2021). The Critical Posthuman Carapace. Presented at: Bartlett Research Conversations.
  • Shergill, R. (2021). The Critical Posthuman Tree. Presented at: Uprooting The Anthropocene, The University of Oxford.
  • Shergill, R. (2020). The Tomorrow People: The critical posthuman through bio-integrated design. Presented at: AUB Human.
  • Shergill, R. (n.d.). The Wallace Collection Fashion and Power [Exhibition]. 19-Jul-19.
  • Shergill, R., & Huse, D. P. (2018). Amy by Ram. DPH Productions.
  • Shergill, R. (2018). In Conversation: The Unseen Amy Winehouse, at The National Portrait Gallery.
  • Shergill, R. The National Portrait Gallery Contemporary Collection [Exhibition]. 26-Nov-18 - 26-Feb-19. (5 portraits in the permanent collection).
  • Huse, D. P., & Shergill, R. (2017). The Protagonist Magazine Issue 3.
  • Treacy, P., & Hume, M. (2015). Philip Treacy Hat Designer. Rizzoli Publications.
  • Shergill, R. (n.d.). Kaleidoscope [Exhibition and Book]. 14-Jan-14 - 14-Feb-14.
  • Shergill, R. (n.d.). India Fantastique [Exhibition]. 08-Sep-12. India Fantastique Fashion. (2012). Book with Thames and Hudson 1st and 2nd Edition.
  • Shergill, R. (2008). Drama Magazine. Drama Publishing.
  • Bolton, A. (2003). Men in Skirts. Victoria & Albert Museum.
Exhibitions
  • 2023 – The White Box Gallery, London
  • 2023 – MOCA, The Museum of Contemporary Art, London
  • 2022 – MOCA, The Museum of Contemporary Art, London
  • 2021 – Venice Italian Virtual Pavilion, City X, La Biennale Architectura, Venice
  • 2021 – The Bloomsbury Festival, London
  • 2020 – The Wallace Collection, Fashion and Power, London
  • 2019 – The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Houston, Texas
  • 2019 – National Portrait Gallery, London
  • 2018 – The Old Bank Vault, London
  • 2018 – OXO Tower Gallery, London
  • 2018 – London Craft Week
  • 2018 – Leica Gallery, Los Angeles
  • 2017 – Contini Art UK, London
  • 2015 – Photo London, Somerset House, London
  • 2015 – Jodhpur Palace, Rajasthan
  • 2015 – National Institute of Design and Technology, Kolkataa, India
  • 2015 – Tasveer Gallery, Mumbai, India
  • 2015 – Leica Gallery, London
  • 2014 – Saffron Art, Mumbai, India
  • 2014 – Saffron Art, Delhi, India
  • 2013 – Sotheby’s, London
  • 2001 – Station Kuhnstal Gallery, Frankfurt, Germany
  • 1999 – Whitechapel Gallery, London

Ram Shergill has more than 300 publications in mainstream media including international editions of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, Wallpaper magazine, Dazed and W Magazine.

Research supervision

Ram is interested to supervise PhD students in areas of bioregenerative design, luxury, biodesign, wearable technology, critical posthuman studies, fashion communication, space architectures, photography and Creative Direction.

Professional Membership, Affiliation and Consultancy

  • 2021 – SONET The Sustainable Off-World Network, (member)
  • 2019 – BIOLADIES Network
  • 2021 – Algae UK (member)
  • 2020 – The British Phycological Society (member)
  • 2020 – Association of Photographers (member)
  • 2012 – Consultant, Thames and Hudson, India Fantastique, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla
  • 2023 – KU Leuven, Department of Architecture
  • 2022 – University of East London UEL, MA Creative Enterprise
  • 2021 – University for the Creative Arts, BA (Hons) Fashion Image & Styling
  • 2016 – ACTA Award Arts Culture and Theatre Award, received for unique contribution to photography and the arts

Grants/Research funding

  • Total amount of funding achieved £2,262,000.00 
Dr Ram Shergill