Crimson Wales
Graduation Year: 2021
New Blood Art Commentary
Working directly in paint, without preliminary sketches, Crimson’s work develops through a reciprocal process; a call and response between the artist and the painting.
Time to drift and reflect are crucial, nothing is planned. Each brushstroke or colour triggers memories and visual imagery. The emerging paintings are an investigation into visual thinking; a non literal space.
Memories and dreams fade in and out; Oscillating. Contemporary concerns resonate with beloved paintings. Unexpected and familiar themes arise and dissipate. The mind battles itself, trying to pin something down as imagery comes in and out of focus, and often slips away. Mixed emotions and memories emerge, creating tension; paradoxical, child like, absurd, tender, private.
Working with the visual imagination frees the artist from dependency on photography, allowing freedom to explore imagined time and space, creating a rich and surprising practice.
Artist Statement
I graduated with a 1st, BA Hons Art History/Archaeology of Africa and Asia From SOAS, in 2000. I got my Art Foundation at Chelsea College of Art and Design in 2004 and went on to a BA Fine Art at Central St Martins, where I completed my first year but deferred to have children and moved down to the south coast to raise them. I am currently intermitting from my MAFA at Brighton University, due to return in January 2024. I have received Arts Council England DYCP Funding in 2022.
I had my first solo show, supported by ACE funding in November 2022, at The Lido Stores Margate.
Untethered by the chaos of the first Covid lockdown 2020,Crimson turned her attention toward the frustrations inherent in painting from photography. Sketching herself opening her head and shining a torch down into the dark, slumbering depths, illuminating strange yet familiar dioramas. The work has a life of its own it is elusive, rarely compliant, but endlessly engaging. Simultaneously frightening, exhilarating and seductive. The paintings leap back and forth from memory to imagination. Working during the night, when nothing matters and no one is watching, helps. But dawn soon comes and real life demands attention.
Solo Exhibitions
(2022) Two Left Eyes, The Lido Stores, Margate
Group Exhibitions
(2022) Combat Stress Secret Postcard Auction, Bankside Gallery, London SE1 9JB
(2022) Weary Harold, ASC, London SE17 2DG
(2022) SugarCube II, The Lido Stores, Margate
(2022) Give Me Love, The Lido Stores, Margate
(2022) Sussex Contemporary, BA i360, Brighton
(2021) ING Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, The Mall, St. James's, London SW1
(2021) Figurative Art Now, Mall Galleries, Online
(2021) Looks like it's gunna rain, Motion Sickness project, Cambridge
(2021) Lido Open Margate, Lido Stores, Margate
(2021) With Love II, Painttalk, Online
(2021) Life on Venus, The Tub Hackney, E8 4TS
(2020) With Love, Painttalk, Online
(2020) Ing Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, Online
(2020) Lapping and lapping over, Room 128, University of Brighton
(2019) Artist in residence, Artist in residence studio, Brighton Girls, Montpelier Road, Brighton.
(2015) Alt Open House, The Hive, Hove, East Sussex
(2014) Artists in residence, The Hive, Hove, East Sussex
(2011) Hove Arts Council, Brighton Friends centre, Brighton East Sussex
(2011) Ink Flow, Link layer Centre, Railway Land Trust, Lewes
(2008) The paddock show, Brewery Arts, Gloucester
(2004) End of year show, Chelsea College of Art and Design, Vauxhall, London