Contemporary British Painting

On 1st November 2014, 'Contemporary British Painting' opens at Huddersfield Art Gallery. Showcasing works by over sixty artists, this exhibition highlights work produced by painters practicing in Britain in the 21st Century. It runs until 14 March 2015. I am very much looking forward to exhibiting here and seeing the collection. This is the first time the 'Priseman-Seabrook Collection' will be on display.

Artists include:

Alison Pilkington, Iain Andrews, Paul Galyer, Jemima Watts, Monica Metsers, Annabel Dover, Andrew Munoz, James Quin, Lisa Denyer, Amanda Ansell, Fiona Eastwood, Bren Head, Simon Burton, Emma Cameron, Simon Carter, Barbara Howey, Gideon Pain, Matthew Krishanu, Anne-Marie Kolthammer, Kelly Jayne, Wendy Elia, Silvie Jacob, Linda Ingham, Natalie Dowse, David Sullivan, Susannah Douglas, Greg Rook, Judy Tucker, Katherine Russell, Jules Clarke, Nicholas Middleton, Nathan Eastwood, Alex Hanna, Stephen Newton, Pen Dalton, Susan Gunn, David Ainley, Claudia Boese, Terry Greene, Julian Brown, Sue Kennington, Ben Cove, Andrew Crane, Bryan Lavelle, Mary Webb, Ruth Philo, Freya Purdue, Julie Umerle, Kirsty O'Leary Lesson, Marguerite Horner, Harvey Taylor, Sam Douglas, Robert Priseman and Sean Williams.

Three group shows

I'm pleased to announce that I have three group shows opening before the end of the year. These shows are all in connection with the collective 'Contemporary British Painting' and a wonderful opportunity to get my work out into the world.

For those who follow my blog, you may remember that I wrote earlier this year in August about the 'Priseman-Seabrook collection of 21st Century British Painting'. The first showing of this collection of over sixty works, which includes one of my paintings, is at Huddersfield Art Gallery from 1st November 2014 - 14th March 2015. This exhibition is called 'Contemporary British Painting'. A catalogue will be published to accompany the exhibition, available through Amazon.

The second show is at Ipswich Art School Gallery from 15th November 2014 - 8th March 2015. This exhibition is called 'Paint Britain', with thirty-six participating artists.

The third show is at St Marylebone Crypt in London from 8th December 2014 to 4th January 2015, and is called 'Contemporary British Painting'. This is the group's annual christmas exhibition.

I hope you will be able to visit one or more of these exhibitions. At least now I'll be able to give a good response when people ask me where they can see my paintings!

Priseman-Seabrook Collection

I am delighted to announce that 'Eclipse' is now part of the Priseman-Seabrook Collection of 21st Century British Painting. 

Eclipse. Oil/acrylic on canvas.
© Julie Umerle

Here is a short descriptive piece about the painting that I have written for the catalogue:

I am interested in exploring the physicality of paint, making paintings that exist at the meeting point of decision and accident. Eclipse replaces brush strokes with the direct interaction of liquid elements on canvas. Alternately layering oil and acrylic, a reaction is produced between the two mediums that is a by-product of the materials. The interaction of the materials, together with the effects of gravity, activates the surface. 

The breakdown and falling apart of the surface, where layers of oil and acrylic pull against each other and don't quite hold the ground, is what interests me. I want the work to contain an element of disintegration or measure of disorder which threatens to disrupt any attempt at a complete reading. The way that the edge is wrapped, or the internal gravity of the painting disrupted by turning the canvas in the making of the work, contributes to that sense of dislocation.

The Priseman-Seabrook Collection highlights work produced by artists practicing in Britain in the 21st Century. The first showing of the collection will be at Huddersfield Art Gallery later this year. The collection will be exhibited there from November 2014 - March 2015. A catalogue of the exhibition is available on.Amazon.