Back in September we reflected on the emerging trend of artists in lock-down creating much smaller work (see our post ‘Working Small’). Since then (not surprisingly) we’ve seen this trend continue and have been interested to note thematic exhibitions emerging from high profile contemporary galleries – such as Hauser & Wirth’s upcoming Phyllida Barlow show ‘Small Worlds’ and Sadie Coles HQ’s online exhibition: ‘HOMEWORK’.  […]

This time of year I compile a round-up of artist’s achievements, and with a year unlike any other, these achievements seem all the more significant. That these artists have found the resilience to keep going – with their studio practice, applying for prizes, for residencies, making their work (smaller where necessary), resourcefully curating online shows in […]

When asked to explain his artistic choices, famously David Hockney once replied: “I prefer living in colour”. His paintings make this obvious, yet the simple response is also an equally potent reminder that ‘living in colour’ is open to everyone, they just need to choose it. Colour permeates all aspects of our lives. It shapes […]

Do you believe in magic?, Do you believe in luck?, Do you believe in ghosts? An ambivalent magic that embroiders every experience – just ask artist Mark Bletcher, who’s paintings fuse magic, mundanity, and unlikely muses. Bletcher’s work is a self-professed compendium of ‘Modern Magical Realism’, with influences ranging from writer Haruki Murakami to British painter Howard Hodgkin.  His work, […]

There’s nothing quite like submerging oneself into water. Whether it’s the ocean, the local lido, or even the bath… there’s something therapeutic about putting a lid on the world outside and unfurling one’s limbs. Integral to the human spirit, water has been the object of artistic exploration since the dawn of time, taking on deep […]

Most paintings require a leap of faith of some sort – trusting an object is real, believing in the life of a landscape, or extending empathy to a lone figure really before us. In the work of this week’s artist Emma-Louise Grady, the viewer is asked less for their faith, than their upmost attention and […]

With Autumn beginning to find its stride, there’s a creeping inclination to stay (even more!) indoors. The days are getting shorter, and the burgeoning cool keeps us back a little from wading outdoors in search of wonder. Art perhaps picks up nature’s slack; a reserve of warmth, energy, and intrigue, it can keep us dazzled […]

Your average day probably involves looking at an electronic screen. From work emails and texting, to social media and news stories, the eyes are always on a relentless quest for knowledge, communication, and entertainment. ‘Screen fatigue’ is a guarantee – where did caution go? Where’s the person who used to yell “Don’t sit too close to the TV or you’ll ruin […]

What makes a story? It can be hard to tell, especially when stories so thoroughly make up the fabric of life. As writer Joan Didion famously wrote, “we tell ourselves stories in order to live”, so do we even want to separate life from story? For artist Stephen Todd, it’s a tricky predicament taken up […]

In light of the government’s retraining quiz, we’ve decided to start a series foregrounding those artists defiantly persisting with their creative ventures. ‘Still an Artist’ is a show of support for art-heads everywhere, giving you an insight into the lives of our artists, as we meet them where they’re at… Lately, the ecstatic work of […]