We are looking forward to Pride & Prejudice, the new show from Dale Grimshaw at WellHung gallery and guess what? We have two signed posters of the flyer show (see left) to give away to two of our readers so get involved and refer to panel on the right.
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23 MARCH – 29 APRIL
Private View: Thursday 23 MARCH 6-9pm
Well Hung are delighted to announce Dale Grimshaw’s first solo show at Well Hung Gallery. Pride and Prejudicebrings together a body of work based on a ‘two worlds’ theme that Dale has been developing over the last few years. The work contains a strong political message, depicting portraits of threatened indigenous people, mostly from Papua New Guinea, which collide with familiar symbols of the privileged western world, producing a jarring effect that emphasises their powerlessness.
More recently, Dale has become involved with the political struggle to free West Papua from Indonesian occupation. This bitter and hard fought struggle is rarely reported in the West and through his work, Dale has been supporting Benny Wenda, the campaigns leader and long term champion Peter Tatchell, in raising awareness in the UK.
Due to Dale’s involvement with this Campaign his latest work is moving towards a subtler and more emotively lead approach to painting. Contrasting with the earlier, more graphic representations of Western culture, Dale has begun to incorporate softer references to his cultural identity, for example graffiti interspersed with decorative wallpaper motifs. This makes the figures themselves more personal and touching, reflecting his increased interest in the plight of individuals and the intensity of their cultural identity, which is so at risk.
Dale’s work has always been boldly figurative and has been inspired by his strongly held humanitarian beliefs. However, this political message is always achieved by an emphasis on powerful direct emotions and a deep empathy for his subjects.
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Background
Dale Grimshaw was born in Lancashire, in the North of England. During a difficult childhood, his drawing and painting became extremely important to him. He developed his skills at college, firstly with an Art Foundation course at Blackburn College and later to Degree Level, studying Fine Art at Middlesex University.
Dale Grimshaw has a successful gallery career, having exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally, including five solo exhibitions with Signal Gallery, London. His exhibitions have been widely recognised in the press and online, articles have been published in The Independent, Juztapoz, Art of England Magazine and Widewalls. His works are collected internationally, alongside celebrities including Adam Ant and The Prodigy.
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More recently Dale has been invited to festivals nationally and internationally as well as painting many iconic walls across London, where he lives.
Private view from 6pm until 9.30pm is on Thursday 23rdMarch. Music and refreshments will be provided, the event is open to all but please do email info@wellhung.co.ukto confirm attendance. Admission is, as always, free.
Streetwise characters such as Peck’em Pigeon, Barkin’ Dog, Foxall Fox, Bushey Squirrel and Purr-ley Cat take centre stage in Stephenson’s solo exhibition, something they’re quite used to after being placed in permanent collections such as the Marriott Hotel in Westminster, where their furry faces adorn each and every room.
Following a visit from the whole gang at Jealous Print Studio, the characters have been re-imagined and reinvigorised into brand new screenprint editions, as well as original paintings and a host of other new, very small editions.
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Simon Stephenson will also be giving away a very secret, special original to the first 10 purchasers of the new works.
So don’t miss it. Or we’ll send Peck’em Pigeon round.
Simon Stephenson is a London based artist and professional illustrator. He has worked as a creative in advertising for over 20 years. Simon’s work has been featured in the ‘Association of Illustrators Annual’ and used in many advertising campaigns including Telewest, Barclays Bank, Orange, NHS, Jigsaw among many others. His work has been used and featured in several books such as ‘The big book of illustration ideas.’Inspiration is sought for his artworks in London and its denizens, both
human and animal and his work finds a home in celebrity and permanent collections, such as TBC Suggs from Madness and Chancery Court, London.
Pixel Pancho street art style stands out of the crowd and often includes robotic like characters. It was difficult to choose which pieces to show so anything Pixel Pancho sprays turns into wonders. We have included below a few examples of his works.
TEASER project is an enthusiastic collective effort which document the Paris street art scene. You will come across artists like Atlas, FKDL, Da Cruz or C215.
We like the interactive map telling about where you can find street art work. We like even more the video tout together to showcase the project – good work indeed.
This is the follow up of the first set of new pieces from Banksy spotted in Los Angeles last week, read about it here
Two more pieces can be now seen in L.A. One is located not far from the USC campus and depicts what looks like a family running with a kite, understand here the comparison with the illegal immigrant caution signs that can be seen along the Mexican border.
Another quite quirky piece has been done on an abandoned oil tanker. A simple message says on it – This Looks A Bit Like An Elephant
I now work around the lively Fitzvoria neighbourhood in Central London and managed to pay a visit to the Coningsby gallery and found out about one of their upcoming shows and in particular about James Starr
Jim Starr will be exhibiting his exquisite sketches, paintings and prints of birds, and avian-influenced portraits at the Coningsby Gallery opening Monday 12 October.
Inspired by his expeditions worldwide and wildlife on the Thames, twenty works by Starr will be shown, displaying field sketches of Spoonbills, Herons and Eagles, alongside their final incarnations as large-scale canvases.
Starr began painting birds when he was just 13 years old. He has worked as an expedition artist throughout his career, recording through sketches and photography the wildlife he saw on trips to Svalbard, Iceland, the Himalayas and the Rockies.
Through illustration Starr experimented with screen-printing methods, which he now combines with painting to create his own mixed-media hybrid.
Starr’s latest works are developed through the layering of screen-prints and paint repeatedly onto canvas; a method that Starr likens to a ‘remix’. The species are depicted in great detail as a result, surrounded by abstract landscapes of Pop-like colours and subtle textures.
WHAT – ‘Birds of Paradise’ by James Starr WHEN – 12 October 2015–24 October 2015 WHERE – Coningsby Gallery, 30 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RJ
I must admit when I heard that this crew, originally from France, were heading down under I completely geeked out.
We have been big fans of DMV, seeing pieces from them go up in Paris, Barcelona and their epic wall at London’s Meeting Of Styles.
Even though the show at Rtist gallery is a great way to see each artists individual style, the true abilities of this crew shine when they collaborate on big walls.
It seems that everything came together for them here in Melbourne, the weather was great and the wall they were given was in China Town a unique and oddly appropriate setting.
“Young Masters” is the latest show from Curious Duke gallery and is now in full swing. We went down to check it out what the group show has to offer.
If you have never been to the gallery, your first impression, as you step in, might be that the gallery is tiny but keep walking on and head downstairs where the main exhibition area is. The place is actually big enough to host a decent amount of work from several artists. “Young Masters” present us with artwork from 11 different artists.
What strikes you right away is the diversity of works that this show offers – you will encounter steel sculptures from Sam Shendi as well as amazing BIRO drawings from Mark Powell. You are greeted by ben levy’s portraits which always try to transpire current political, racial or sexual issues the artist cares about by using well-known pop references such as McDonalds.
Head towards the stairs and find yourself facing with an odd sculpture made of steel which will catch your curiosity. Head downstairs and find scattered around the place several other pieces from the same artist. Sam Shendi’s sculptures use bright colours, often red, yellow and blue and the shapes are straight ones. You cannot walk past them and not stop and have a closer look. We particularly like “Freedom Of Speech” which consist of three small boxes, one yellow, one red and one blue all showing you a face where the freedom of speech os broken down. Simple but clever.
Oil on canvas has been a technique that has been around almost forever and the show via Richard Goold and Danielle Hodson gives the visitors eyes something to look at again and again. Danille Hodson portraits are somewhat quite traditional but with sometimes a twist – “Piggy” is a perfect example, the face depicts a pig instead of a human face. Richard Goold on the other hand does surrealism and does it well. If you like Dali, you will like this artist.
By Mark Powell
2 more artists caught our attention. Kate Knight and Mark Powell.
Kate Knight watercolour on canvas pieces are soft and delicate and will seduce the romantics out there although her subjects can sometimes be awkward. You will find yourself in from of series of encrusted blackened heart which for some reason comes across as beautiful. Maybe the metal leaf added on all Danielle Hodson pieces have got something to do with it.
Mark Powell drawing technic is mind blowing. Armed with only a ballpoint pen, his drawing are just so detailed and realistic, you wonder how much time it must take the artist to get these drawing done. We also appreciated that the artists use unusual support such as a 1853 letter/envelope or an antique map of France.
If the show tells you anything is that there are still out there, talented artists that keep their creativity up by using good old painting or drawing techniques, oil on canvas often wins you over I must say.
Exhibiting artists: Andrea Tyrimos| Ben Levy | Dannielle Hodson | Darren MacPherson | Hannah Downing | Kate Knight | Kareena Zerefos | Mark Powell | Otto D’Ambra | Richard Goold | Paul Don Smith | Sam Shendi | Sue Young Lee
