2023 - Issue 77
Showcasing artists and works that caught my attention.
It’s usually musical duos whose names you know, but Waldron and Mann are an artistic pair that I’ll be keeping my eye on. Cecil Waldron is inspired to draw the beauty that he sees in people. Billy Mann (@billyscraps) gives them added texture and depth through his stitchwork interpretations. This limited run show is a great showcase of their talent as well as the positive impact of Headway East London (@headwayeastlondon), the charity where they met, that is dedicated to supporting those affected by brain injury. All sales split 60/40 between artist and charity.
‘The Power of Transformation’ at Burgh House (@burghhouse1704) until 10 Sep
Youth has always looked alien to new parents and aging populations, and Ryan Hewett (@ryhew) has transposed his own observations and trepidations into futuristic, transhuman fantasy figures. Plus an owl. The real appeal of these works, though, is the wide variety of textures that often go unnoticed until you’re almost nose to nose with these… baby Skrulls?
‘Nexus’ at Unit London (@unitlondon) until 16 Sep
Joe Grieve (@joebennellgrieve) paints swirly abstracted landscapes. In this show he’s hung them among real scented plants and fake green grass. It feels like an art exhibit set inside a garden centre, except there’s no gnomes. There is, however, a bench in a shed where you can hide away to engage with just one work. It’s somewhat ironic to create such a thoroughly executed setting for works that give no clues about location, but it makes it a memorable show.
‘Between Place & Time’ at Brushes with Greatness (@brushes_with_greatness) until 17 Sep
Bodies or rocks? Muscly men or landscapes? Maybe it’s just Korg-porn? Ben Jamie (@benjamie) explores abstracted figuration courtesy of some Icelandic volcanic inspiration but what I really want to know is how these works look so damn muddy despite incorporating so much pastel pink and yellow. I stared so hard I thought I saw toes, and you’ll certainly find more figures if you let your eyes and imagination wander.
‘Realm’ at Castor Gallery (@castor_gallery) until 30 Sep
My favourite work in this show of hyperrealistic paintings is an unwrapped block of cheese, with the nose from a just-off-camera figure barely sneaking into the scene for a sniff. It’s a playful touch that turns an innocuous still-life into something worth studying. All the small sized works take a similar approach, but as the canvas size grows Tristan Pigott (@tristanpigott) lets his surreal run wild and they start to lose the plot, like a musical jam that goes on for far too long. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I much prefer when this artist sticks to simpler riffs.
On a side note, Alice Black continues to knock it out of the park with eye catching gallery hangs that superbly accentuate yet never outshine the art.
‘Instrument in a Spiral’ at Alice Black (@aliceblackgallery) until 30 Sep
Gabriel de la Mora (@gabrieldelamora118) shows just how mesmerising you can make the most basic of shapes, using meticulously inlaid eggshells, butterfly wings, turkey feathers and convex glass fragments. It will be no surprise to learn these take years to complete, and god only knows how many omelettes he had to eat. I had a lot of fun taking selfies in the mirrored works, but you could easily lose an afternoon studying any one of the two dozen that are on display.
‘FRAGMENTXS’ at Timothy Taylor (@timothytaylorgallery) until 30 Sep
PLUS — don’t forget to check the What’s On page so you don’t miss any other great shows closing soon.