Rosemary Burn
Degree: MA Sculpture, LTCL piano (performer)
University: Chelsea School of Art, Trinity College of Music
Graduation Year: 1984
New Blood Art Commentary
Notable Achievements 2021
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Rosemary Burn masterfully captures everyday scenes, imbuing objects with a quiet dignity of their own. What we might consider mere ingredients – vegetables, the fruits of a harvest, or an un-minced garlic bulb – hold their own resonances and beauty. Burn pays careful attention to their sculptural forms and delectable colours; lest we forget, the fruits of our labour are also the gifts of nature. And for Burn these natural objects can come up against the man-made in comedic ways, as she shows a cat pawing at electrics or focuses on a Coke bottle refracting light. Through developing an impressionist-realist style, she depicts the truth of these forms with a lightness of touch and singular focus. Whether painting meandering figures or interior scenes, her work is full of wonder and delight. Rosemary was selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2023.
Artist Statement
When I look at the history of art I see a tapestry woven with human life - its conflicts, wonder, boredom, moments of silence, thoughts... corners from the minds of the artists who created the artworks. I am aware of this within my creative process, and I see much of my painting as a meditation, a pondering on the seemingly everyday or mundane.
Along with portraits and landscapes, I am more often than not drawn to painting still life. Although it is perhaps just painting ‘stuff’, I love its humility, and its implied human content - what is perhaps hovering beyond its parameters; a human element notable by its absence.
There is a certain poetry to be found in a dripping bath tap and the light carried in the ripples, a fly on the wall, the fleeting expression on a face, a nameless place. It seems to me that these happenings underpin our existence; big events, highs and lows, come and go but the insignificant and fleeting remain and repeat, like a constant hum in the background.
The nature of each brushstroke, and the texture of the paint also play an important part in the translation of the seen, into a blurring between the representational and the semi abstract, the patterns which often escape our notice.
I work every day searching for an alchemy between paint, subject and moment. When I studied at Chelsea School of Art I was making sculpture, but the intention behind the work was similar. Works from those times include a bicycle abandoned on its side with its back wheel perpetually turning, so the scene of an accident was kept alive for an infinite length of time, a remote controlled leg of lamb, a huge flying saucepan which had come to rest skewered by the sword of a swordfish held upright by a fisherman (both plaster casts).
Although my life is a busy one with many commitments - I am also a classical pianist, (and I teach the piano and violin), not being creative in some way every day has never been possible for me. I love every minute!
2023 was a great year for me with works included in the RA Summer Exhibition, ING Discerning Eye, SWLA, The Natural Eye, Mall Galleries, 2 cash awards from the Teravarna Gallery international competitions, and also shortlisted as a finalist in the Art Gemini Prize with an exhibition at Zari Gallery London.
2024 has been eventful too with 3 works bought by Laura Gonzalez interior designer for a high profile project - a chic new restaurant in Paris, and more of my works on show at the Mall Galleries, London, where one was bought by a prominent art dealer. Zandra Rhodes, the iconic fashion designer has sat for two portraits which are now included in her private collection. I have also painted the BBC journalist Rory Cellan-Jones's famous Romanian rescue dog Sophie; this painting will be auctioned by 'Cure Parkinsons'.
Solo Exhibitions
(2021) Amalgam, The Space Theatre, London
(1991) Solo exhibition, City Racing, London
Group Exhibitions
(2024) Royal Society of Marine Artists annual exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
(2024) Danger Zone, Aedra Fine Arts, Online
(2024) Society of Wildlife Artists annual exhibition, The Natural Eye, Mall Galleries, London
(2024) Gallery representation, Rise Art, Online
(2024) Fiesta, Artcan at Inky Fingers Gallery, London
(2024) Art on a postcard 2024, The Bomb Factory, Covent Garden, London
(2024) Shh, the Artcan secret auction, Artcan, London
(2024) Nearly home, Artcan, Madrid
(2024) Worlds Investable Female Artists, Opulent Art Gallery and Artsy, Online
(2024) Pensychnant Open Exhibition, Pensychnant Nature Conservation Centre, Pensychnant
(2024) Artsy Artists Summer Exhibition, Opulent Art Gallery, Artsy
(2023) SWLA The Natural Eye, 60th anniversary exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
(2023) The Power of Pencil, ArtCan, Online
(2023) Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London
(2023) ING Discerning Eye 2023, Mall Galleries, London
(2023) Chroma 2, ArtCan, America Square Conference Centre, London
(2023) Art on a postcard, The AOP gallery, Online
(2023) Finalist, the 10th Art Gemini Prize, Zari Gallery, London
(2022) Artexpo 2022, New York, USA
(2022) Wells Art Contemporary, Wells Cathedral, Wells
(2022) Royal Society of Marine Artists exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
(2022) Paris International Art Fair, Porte de Versailles, Paris
(2021) London International Art Fair, Mixing Identities, THE LINE, contemporary art space, London
(2021) Reflections, Arte Borgo Gallery, Rome
(2021) Figurative Art Now, Mall Galleries, London
(2020) preselected for BP portrait award, National Portrait Gallery, London
(2020) Royal Institute of Oil painters exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
(2019) Royal Institute of Oil Painters exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
(2019) Florence Biennale, Fortezza da Basso, Florence
(2019) Art Screen TV Digital Exhibition, Gallerie du Marche Prestige, Montreux, Switzerland
(2018) Royal Institute of Oil Painters exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
(1990) Group exhibition, The Showroom, London
(1990) Group exhibition, Art Now, London
(1990) 27 Artists till the roof falls in, Art East, London
(1990) International Garden Festival, International Garden Festival, Liverpool
(1990) Christie's Inaugural, Christie's, London
Competitions, Prizes & Awards
(2020) Artwork featured in House and Garden magazine
(2023) Artist of the future award, Contemporary Art Curator magazine, London
(2022) Wells Art Contemporary Awards
(2023) Feature in Pomegranate magazine, London
(2023) Collectors Art Prize, Contemporary Art Curators magazine
(2023) Publication in '101 Contemporary Artists and more...'
(2023) 2nd prize, 7th international landscape competition, Teravarna Gallery
(2023) Interview with James Thomas on BBC Radio Wiltshire
(2023) Publication in 'Weightless', artist book by SU4IP
(2002) Publication in the book, 'City Racing, the life and times of an artist run gallery'
(2023) Art Gemini Prize finalist
(2023) 2nd prize Artists grants award , Teravarna Gallery
(2023) Susan Marinello Interiors, Seattle WA bought 6 artworks
(2024) 3 artworks bought by interior designer Laura Gonzalez for a high profile project in Paris
(2024) Zandra Rhodes portraits in her private collection
(2024) Finalist, Artavita International Art Contest
(2024) Longlisted for the Women in Art Emerging Artist Prize
(2024) RP critical writing prize, reserve list