Jamie Shovlin, Lustfaust: A Folk Anthology 1976-81 (2003-2006). ICA, London, 2006

One of the UK’s most promising young artists is putting together a new exhibition for Manchester Museum - by using the internet auction site eBay.

Jamie Shovlin, a 27-year-old Leicester-born artist, came up with the idea after asking the question, ‘where is Manchester in the Manchester Museum?’

Distributing a questionnaire, he asked the public to focus on a single object that represents Manchester for them - and the answers ranged from a factory to a Stone Roses album.

He now has a budget of £1,000 in which to purchase the new collection and a computer set up in the museum.

Shovlin is working with the Alchemy project, Manchester Museum’s research programme for artists, which aims to ‘reinvigorate museum displays, encourage diverse approaches and present alternative voices’.

Jamie Shovlin, Plate 8 of The Twitcher from In Search of Perfect Harmony (2004-2006). Courtesy the artist

“I hope these newly purchased objects will go some way to achieving a true 'people’s' collection," said Shovlin who added that he aims to create a “local collection, for local people."

Based in a public gallery, armed with a computer he will be at Manchester Museum between October 22-28. As he browses eBay he will be using the feedback from his questionnaire to spot bargains. The resulting objects will be on show in the museum as part of an exhibition running from February 16 2008.

Shovlin has previously had solo shows at Tate Britain and at Haunch of Venison in London. His group shows include the 2006 Beck’s Futures, This Much is Certain, RCA 2004 and Bloomberg Contemporaries in 2003.