Having completed my tour of degree shows – there are lots of new artists to welcome to the site. The transition these graduates make from the safety of the art college to the outside world is not always an easy one, we hope to offer an incubation of sorts, where they can make the transition to becoming full time artists. Most of our new artists will be working alongside continuing their studio practice – we wish them all the best and are pleased to be able to support them in this new phase of their lives. There have been some real success stories at NBA and a number of the artists we began showing many years ago are now working full time as artists, surviving in some cases and thriving in others – so it can be done.
I keep returning to Amy Dix from Newcastle, perhaps it’s something to do with the weather and longing to be immersed in cold water! Whatever the reason, her work is memorable. Each year there’s an influx of talented artists from Scotland and this year is no different. I was struck by Elizabete Rancane‘s work at the Edinburgh show. Elizabete is a photographer, making portraits of bi-cultural couples which are touching and powerful, I particularly like Paul and Jacinta – this work invites us to think, imagine and appreciate how we are all unique but at the same time united in our feelings, affection and desires. Rancane’s nudes are also completely beautiful. Another Scottish artist, this time from Dundee, is Darren Kerrigan, we shared a discussion in his studio about how to best represent him online. His work is quite difficult to translate digitally, so I urge you to take a closer look – you’ll find intricate Rodin-esque pencil studies on either black board or gesso-primed board describing masses of entwined nudes and mythical creatures – they have an opulence that would work well in a formal setting. I also invite you to view Elysia Byrd’s work which has an exotic heat, Byrd has a unique vision which is rare and I think she stands out as one to watch. Louise Aldridge’s fantastically observed large scale nudes are at an attractive price-point and Betsey Kilpatrick‘s paintings of the Alps are gentle meditations on pastel-hued mountains.
We also have brilliant new works this week from Agata Czeremuszkin-Chrut, Amy Bernays and Peter Kettle, Amy is back blogging with us again and writes with such openness, it’s a privilege to read her entries.
Sarah.