David Cotterrell

Professor David Cotterrell is a Research Professor of Fine Art and Director of the Culture & Creativity Research Institute (CCRI) at Sheffield Hallam University. He is a globally recognized visual artist and academic, with over 105 exhibitions/public artworks, 40 publications, and 75 papers/lectures across multiple continents. His work bridges art, policy, and conflict resolution, focusing on empathy in military and development contexts. He co-founded Empathy & Risk C.I.C., supported by the Global Challenge Research Fund, to address pre-conflict polarization through arts-led projects.

Research interests include urban design, data-power dynamics, and war/polarization studies. He holds a MA from Chelsea College of Art & Design and has held academic roles since 2000, including Director of Research at the University of Brighton (2016). Awards include the Philip Leverhulme Prize (2010). He supervises postgraduate research on urban development, data ethics, and conflict policy.

Notable collaborations include projects with the British Council, Arts Council England, and institutions in China, the U.S., and Africa. His installations like Mirror IV: Legacy (2018) and Aesthetic Distance (2008, Afghanistan) blend art with socio-political critique. He actively engages in exhibitions, advocacy, and policy forums globally.