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Mid-shot of Southbank Centre Associate Artist Ivan Blackstock, wearing black sunglasses, a black baseball cap with the red word Kodak underlined in yellow, and a black bomber jacket with the red Honda logo

Ivan Michael Blackstock

Ivan Michael Blackstock is a South London-born multidisciplinary creative, whose work as an artist, mentor, and cultural innovator has been seen on television screens and in iconic venues across the world. 

Blackstock is focused on his work as an independent artist, creating thought-provoking and political artistic expressions. His work has been presented at Sadler’s Wells and 180 Studios in London, La Villette in Paris, Kampnagel in Hamburg and ITA in Amsterdam. And he is recognised for co-founding BirdGang Dance Company, his 2019 Nowness Award for Breakthrough Cultural Excellence in Film and Video, his inclusion on the 2021 Dazed 100 shortlist, 2021 and his role as contributing editor at Fact Magazine. 

He is the founder of CRXSS PLATFXRM, an organisation platforming talent that constructs new paths for subculture creatives. CRXSS PLATFXRM has previously worked in partnership with the Southbank Centre, as well as working with UAL: Central Saint Martins, Nike and Red Bull.

Some of Blackstock’s notable highlights to date include being appointed Artistic Director of 180 Studios from 2020 to 2023, choreographing for Beyonce’s musical film Black Is King and Grammy Award-winning music video Brown Skin Girl, and founding his very own media production company ALTRUVIOLET. With the premiere work for ALTRUVIOLET, TRAPLORD BLK MEME/RA – produced  for Channel 4 Random Acts in 2021 – Blackstock won a 2023 Oliver Award for best new dance production.

Becoming an Associate Artist  is the latest in a long line of connections between Blackstock and the Southbank Centre, as in 2023 he was one of the artists involved in our Southbank Centre Studio, with a short creative ‘residency’ in our Purcell Room.

Speaking at the time of his Southbank Centre Studio involvement, Blackstock said: ‘I’ve had many full circle moments at the Southbank Centre, from performing as a child, and seeing some of my favourite dance works as a young adult, to hosting CRXSS PLATFXRM on the terrace, and practising my dance moves outside the cloakroom on a weekday evening. I’m looking to build more memories and a stronger relationship here at the Southbank Centre’.