Lucy Withers
Degree: Fine Art
University: Nottingham Trent
Graduation Year: 2023
New Blood Art Commentary
Classical busts and urns abound and come alive in the joyfully vivacious works of Lucy Withers. Interrogating and subverting Britain's national collections of statues and archaeological finds from around the world, Lucy's work offers a new, alternative archive. In works such as 'KLEPTOKRAT' and 'INSIDE the LOOTED TROVE II', the contrast between the quick, fluid marks of the spray paint contrasts with the strong base shapes and colourful details of the pieces, echoing defacing graffiti that, in this case, comprises the work itself. Capitalising on our gut reactions to the idea of defacement, and what we seek to preserve, this rebellious medium, its bold colours and classical subjects combine to create an assertive, confrontational body of work that challenges the very nature of collecting and preservation.
Benedict Carpenter van Barthold, Principal Lecturer at Nottinham Trent's School of Art and Design:
'Lucy’s work is bright, vibrant and totally arresting. We were impressed by the way in which she pushed at the boundaries of what a contemporary painting practice can be.'
Artist Statement
Dynamic and freely moving between painting, sculpture and installation, Withers' personal art practice is constantly evolving. With a focus on shape and colour, she predominantly looks to manipulate the formal elements to create artwork that really brings out the joy of creation. She has been considering collections this year in multiple senses of the word, with a particular interest in museum collections. Her research has also led her to explore other kinds of collections, such as stamps, insects, stickers and taxidermy. Each of these different things have been translated into different art mediums, which she has been experimenting with over the last few years, including, but not limited to, animation, spray paint and projection. Interpreting shapes away from their original source is something that Withers has been interested in throughout her creative practice, looking at outlines and negative space to see how they change and then consider new formats she can present them in.
Given that she has been recently exploring museum collections and, in particular, statues, Withers has been considering their places of origin. The bright colours and fluid spray paint gestures within her artwork are knowingly at odds with the careful reverie of classical sculpture, and aim to question the ownership of Britain's found or stolen statues, particularly at a time with the current call to repatriate them to their countries of origin
Solo Exhibitions
(2022) EAT YOUR HEART OUT, Twitchel Gallery, Nottingham
Group Exhibitions
(2021) LET ME JUST ENJOY THIS, Twitchel Gallery, Nottingham
(2021) PROJECT PENDING, Surface Gallery, Nottingham