Artist statement
Concepts
Within my work I am interested in developing further a contemporary abstract painting/installation practice within a shifting theoretical and cultural climate. The use of hybrid forms and diverse elements in my work alludes to notions of difference, multiplicity and fragmentation. My paintings and installations attempt to break formal rules.
I use aspects of the everyday in my work and incorporate influences from the domestic and urban landscape for example fashion, advertising, interior decor which reveal fragments of encoded histories. I usually choose materials in many ways for my paintings and installations predetermined and by chance, found objects from second hand markets such as hand crotched doilies, linoleum, wood and other fabrics. Colour is a very important aspect of my work. I use colours that are part of contemporary culture eg; fashion prints, wallpaper, advertising billboards. I also appropriate colours from art history eg pop art and op art and incorporate them in to my work. I use various types of paints within my work including oil, acrylic and household paints to create different qualities and textures. I also like the idea of using oil paints with it's high art connotations contrasted by the use of household paints with it's associations with low art. Fragmentation is part of our contemporary postmodern culture and pervades our everyday experiences from the cacophony of sounds to the visual sensations we experience. Working in these contexts has allowed me to further explore the relationship between the viewer's awareness and their engagement with the space and the object. These paintings /installations invite the viewer to engage in a dialogue with art history and contemporary art practice.
Influences
My work has developed out of a critical awareness of the historical legacy of abstraction and explores a visual strategy which challenges and subverts those codes and conventions to create a unique visual language that expands the vocabulary of abstraction. My work is also influenced by popular culture, eg interior design, fashion, kitsch and the built environment. My work also explores my interests in psychology, gender and feminism.
I wish to progress my career and exhibit internationally.
Qualifications and training
- 2005 MA Contemporary Fine Art, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds
- 2001 BA Hons, Visual Art Degree, University of Salford, Salford
- 1998 Art Foundation, School of Visual Arts, Salford College
Solo exhibitions
- 2005 Exhibition, Timber Wharf, Urban Splash, Manchester
- 2002 Habitat, Manchester
Group exhibitions
- 2013 CITIES All Dimensions Part 2, TOKARSKA Gallery, London
- 2012 Issue 15 Over and Out, Soanyway, Online Magazine
- 2012 Art of The Instagram New Media Festival Los Angeles, Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, Los Angeles United States of America
- 2011 Parallax AF Exhibition, The Royal Opera Arcade Pall Mall, London
- 2011 An Exchange with Sol LeWitt, Cabinet and Mass Moca's Prints and Drawing Gallery, New York America
- 2011 Twinned Thrshold Festival, Contemporay Urban Centre and Eggspace, Liverpool
- 2010 The Last Book Project, Zentral Bibliothek Zurich, Switzerland
- 2008 The Last Book Project, The Muesum of The National Library of Spain, Madrid
- 2007 Toxic Colour, Exit Gallery, Ohio, USA
- 2007 On the Next Level, Circomedia, Bristol
- 2007 Open Exhibition, Grosvenor Mueum, Chester
- 2006 Objects in Waiting, MAN museum, Liverpool Biennial 2006
- 2006 Gift, Man Museum Liverpool Biennnial 2006, Liverpool
- 2006 Objects in Waiting, Hallam University, Sheffield
- 2006 Snap to Grid, Los Angeles Centre for Digital Art, USA
- 2006 Celeste Art Prize Finalists Exhibition, Old Truman Gallery, London
- 2006 On the Next Level, Space Between, Touring Exhibition, South West England to March 2007
- 2006 Smallpond, Chorlton Mill Gallery, Manchester
- 2006 Another product, Cornerhouse, Manchester
- 2006 Gateway, Bewdley Institute, Worcestershire
- 2006 First Kitchen, Norton Priory Museum, Cheshire
- 2006 On The Next Level 2006-2007, Touring Exhibition, United Kingdom
- 2006 On the Shelf, Rogue, Manchester
- 2005 Testbed, Leeds Metropolitan University Gallery, Leeds
- 2005 AMP CD launch, The Font, Manchester
- 2004 Ladyfest, Harborne Gallery, Birmingham
- 2004 EX007 Exhibition, Timber Wharf, Urban Splash, Manchester
- 2004 Untitled Collective Exhibition, Chapman Gallery, Salford
- 2004 Liverpool Biennial Independants, Marriott Hotel, Liverpool
- 2003 281transient, Chapel St Gallery, Salford
- 2003 Women's Work, West End Arts Centre, Hampshire
- 2003 The Joy of Kitsch, Oriel Myrddin Gallery, Carmarthen
- 2003 General, Manchester Artworks Gallery, Manchester
- 2003 Show Home Exhibition, Timber Wharf, Urban Splash, Manchester
- 2003 281 Transient, Great Northern Warehouse Exhibition, Manchester
- 2002 Ladies Only, Liverpool Docks Biennial, Liverpool
- 2002 Fresh Art, Business Design Centre, Islington, London
- 2002 Re Use, The Collect Gallery, Liverpool
- 2002 International Womens Work, West End Arts Centre, Hampshire
- 2002 Individualation, Greon Gallery, Manchester
Curated projects
- 2011 The Last Book Project, The Aguilar Branch of The New York City Library, New York USA
Residencies
- 2005 Timber Wharf, Urban Splash, Manchester
Projects
- 2002 Project Coordinator/curator/Member 281 Transient artists group, Chapel St Gallery, Salford
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2006 Celeste Art Prize Finalist, Old Truman Gallery, London
- 2006 Celeste Art Prize (finalist), Truman Brewery, London
- 2004 Artists Professional Development Associate Beneficiary, University of Salford, Salford
Web links - gallery/work/projects
Personal website
