National Portrait Gallery
I was informed recently that the National Portrait Gallery (London) will be displaying my portrait of the British Olympian, Sally Gunnell (part of the permanent collection) from July to November this year.
The Gallery was founded in 1856 to collect portraits of famous British men and women.
Sally Gunnell, notable for her achievement of holding the European, World, Commonwealth and Olympic titles simultaneously, still currently holds the British record for the 400m hurdles.
This year Gunnell is acting as host and ambassador for the 2012 Olympics.
Gunnell recently commented to me about the significance of the Olympics for her, “I can’t quite believe on the 5th August this year, men’s 100m final night. I will be sitting in the stadium […] 20 years to the day since I won in Barcelona”.
The National Portrait Gallery acquired this piece for their permanent collection in 2000. The value of the National Portrait Gallery, as a social library and visual cultural link to notable British citizens, is the success in engaging with its audience. Unlike many other main attraction art institutions, anyone can relate to portraits whether or not they are versed in the arts – here are images of “people”. It is the first encounter with painting and sculpture for some people. The school tours, of a collection such as this, provide a foundation in social history in addition to the arts. It is unfortunate that Canada has had to store its collection since it was moved three years ago.
The Gallery was founded in 1856 to collect portraits of famous British men and women.
Sally Gunnell, notable for her achievement of holding the European, World, Commonwealth and Olympic titles simultaneously, still currently holds the British record for the 400m hurdles.
This year Gunnell is acting as host and ambassador for the 2012 Olympics.
Gunnell recently commented to me about the significance of the Olympics for her, “I can’t quite believe on the 5th August this year, men’s 100m final night. I will be sitting in the stadium […] 20 years to the day since I won in Barcelona”.
The National Portrait Gallery acquired this piece for their permanent collection in 2000. The value of the National Portrait Gallery, as a social library and visual cultural link to notable British citizens, is the success in engaging with its audience. Unlike many other main attraction art institutions, anyone can relate to portraits whether or not they are versed in the arts – here are images of “people”. It is the first encounter with painting and sculpture for some people. The school tours, of a collection such as this, provide a foundation in social history in addition to the arts. It is unfortunate that Canada has had to store its collection since it was moved three years ago.
Public Animal
Public Animal
Solo exhibition at Reading Room Gallery
15th August - 2nd September 2011
65-66 Frith Street, Soho, London W1
Private view 18th August 6 - 9pm
Solo exhibition at Reading Room Gallery
15th August - 2nd September 2011
65-66 Frith Street, Soho, London W1
Private view 18th August 6 - 9pm
The Other at Gallery Atsui
The Other
October 8 – 30, 2010.
Opening Reception October 8, 8 pm.
Kitty Blandy
Jillian Mcdonald
Carrie Walker
Guest Curated by Michael Bjornson
The exhibition “The Other”…posits the hypothesis that all creative expression is, in a sense, self portraiture or, at the very least, an extension of the way we see and/or feel about ourselves. Each of the three artists infuse something of themselves in their creative endeavors.
Jillian Mcdonald injects herself into film clips, replacing the performances of the original female love interests, playing opposite romantic film stars, with performances of her own.
Carrie Walker seeks out the faces of women who have her name in common. She then renders a portrait of each woman “…charting a meticulous visual investigation of identity and the meaning of portraiture. This collision of fine art portraiture with the snapshot blurs the boundaries between self and other…..” Camilla Pickard
Kitty Blandy’s sculptural and drawing “portraits” frequently employ anthropomorphisis to adroitly capture the core nuances of her subjects. Finely sculpted heads become bobble-heads on animal torsos or are fused on sock monkey bodies. Are they all self portraits?
Michael Bjornson.
October 8 – 30, 2010.
Opening Reception October 8, 8 pm.
Kitty Blandy
Jillian Mcdonald
Carrie Walker
Guest Curated by Michael Bjornson
The exhibition “The Other”…posits the hypothesis that all creative expression is, in a sense, self portraiture or, at the very least, an extension of the way we see and/or feel about ourselves. Each of the three artists infuse something of themselves in their creative endeavors.
Jillian Mcdonald injects herself into film clips, replacing the performances of the original female love interests, playing opposite romantic film stars, with performances of her own.
Carrie Walker seeks out the faces of women who have her name in common. She then renders a portrait of each woman “…charting a meticulous visual investigation of identity and the meaning of portraiture. This collision of fine art portraiture with the snapshot blurs the boundaries between self and other…..” Camilla Pickard
Kitty Blandy’s sculptural and drawing “portraits” frequently employ anthropomorphisis to adroitly capture the core nuances of her subjects. Finely sculpted heads become bobble-heads on animal torsos or are fused on sock monkey bodies. Are they all self portraits?
Michael Bjornson.
