cambridge contemporary art

Own it!

cambridge contemporary art1 Comment

The main objective of Own Art is to make it affordable for everyone to buy original, high quality contemporary art and craft. The scheme has been running for over 12 years and we have been a part of it since 2007.

Own Art loans allow you to borrow from as little as £100 up to a maximum of £2,500 for the purchase of works of art by living artists.

It is a perfect solution if you are just starting investing in art or if you want to top-up your current art collection. What is better than buying a piece which you will treasure for years and supporting living artists at the same time? 

The recent changes to the scheme mean that if you qualify for the loan, you no longer have to put down a deposit. You can go straight home and enjoy your new purchase!

For more details about Own Art click here.

zuza_grubecka.jpg

 

 

An afternoon with Richard Spare

cambridge contemporary artComment

Last Sunday we had a pleasure of hosting an afternoon with the printmaker Richard Spare. The artist introduced the general rules of printmaking and explained the process of hand-painting his drypoints. We also had a time for an interesting Q&A session. Thank you to everyone who attended the event! 

We would also like to use this occasion to kindly invite you to our next event - an informal chat with Robert Greenhalf about his practice as a printmaker and a painter. The event will take place on Saturday 4th March between 12-2pm. Free entry. Everyone welcome!

Prints and paintings by Richards Spare and Robert Greenhalf are on display till 5th March. 

Photos by Zuza Grubecka

Meet the Artist - Richard Spare

exhibitions, Meet the artist, Printmakingcambridge contemporary art1 Comment

Richard Spare's wonderful prints are now on show at Cambridge Contemporary Art in an exhibition with printmaker Robert Greenhalf that runs until 5th March. His pared down images, depicting scenes of wildlife, coastal scenes and still life, are inspired by his studio garden, and time spent travelling in America and Japan.

To learn more about the way Richard works we asked him a few questions.

When did you first know you wanted to be an artist? 
I don’t remember as a child making a sudden decision to be an artist, but from an early age I was drawn to making and designing.  It was a natural progression to go to art college and work with other artists. 

What inspires you? 
Nature must be an inspiration to everyone!  The garden at my studio is a constant source of inspiration, as is travel - on arrival in a new part of the world, I am usually weighed down with copper plates! 

What are the qualities you enjoy about the medium you work in? 
I always draw directly onto the plate from my chosen subject.  I love working straight onto the copper, the act of drawing on the resistant copper dictates the way I draw, and the way the image turns out.  I am not transposing from another medium, so each print is an original interpretation, individually printed by hand, and hand painted.  Each print is thus slightly different. I enjoy the rich velvet blacks of the drypoint line against the pure pigment of the watercolour and find the vibrancy of the pigment against the strength of the black a beautiful combination. 
 
How long does the process take and what is involved? 
Each single print takes considerable time to produce.  Aside from the time taken drawing the image (which takes many hours and some strength!) - the plate must be re-inked and hand-wiped for each print made.  The plates are printed on my antique etching presses - the technique having changed very little since Rembrandt’s day. 
The press is turned by hand and the damp paper is peeled off the plate to reveal an image which is thus unique - no mass production here!  The print is then dried for eight hours under weights and is hand-coloured, the application of watercolour painting on the printed drypoint line and gives another dimension of uniqueness. Use of precise colour is extremely important; my wife Kay and I spend a lot of time proofing the colours, until the right balance is achieved. 
 
Do your floral titles come from a knowledge of plants/botany/horticulture? 
Unfortunately I don’t have green fingers myself, or know many Latin names, but I adore flowers and get a real buzz when something wonderful blooms in the studio garden! 
 
How do you arrive at your pared-down images? 
By a process of elimination, over the years I’ve tried to express the essence of what I see. I attempt to evoke the fragility of life and my respect for its existence. Each animal, bird or flower has its own character, often engagingly quirky or even humorous, I enjoy bringing these charictoristics out in my work. 

How did your time in America and Japan influence you? 
Whilst in New York I spent a great amount of time in the museums.  It was during one such visit to MOMA that I was struck by Matisse’s sublime simplicity of line and shape.  On return to London I went on to produce Blue Bird, which was, I suppose, the start of my current work. 
Since then I have traveled extensively in Japan which I was fortunate enough to visit annually for eleven years for a series of solo shows. After a five year break, I am excited to be going back this November for 25 shows right across Japan. I adore the rich culture and artistic traditions, the beauty of the landscape, and the people, all of which has an influence on my work.  
 
Which other artists do you admire? 
Rembrandt, Goya, Van Gogh, Picasso, David Hockney, Hokusai, Utamaro, Hiroshige and many, many more. 
 
What are your favourite museums and galleries? 
 MOMA, NY,  Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam,  Royal Academy, London, Ukiyo-E Ota Memorial Museum of Art, Tokyo. 
 
Can you describe a typical working day? 
I am not a morning person! I usually work at home in the morning, going through the diary, signing prints or discussing ideas or licensing requests with Kay. I arrive at my studio, which is a few miles away, in the late morning and open up the shutters at the back so I can see the garden while I work. I may be printing, or steelfacing my plates (an electroplating process which strengthens the drawn plate, so the image is maintained throughout the punishing pressures on the copper as the edition is printed on the antique etching presses). If I am travelling then of course I am out drawing! 
 
How do you see your work evolving in the future? 
My work will always be informed by travel and nature and I seek inspiration in these. My interpretations have evolved gradually over the years and I’m sure will continue to do so. The printmaking process is constantly surprising and inspiring in itself, and I like to use found textures and marks in some of my works. 
 
What are your general interests? 
My work and leisure cannot really be separated, - but my family, travel, film, meeting up with old friends come top of the list. 

Meet Richard Spare in the gallery on 19th February at 2pm. Richard will be at cambridge contemporary art (6 Trinity Street, Cambridge) to chat to visitors about his work.

 

 

Bloggers in the gallery!

cambridge contemporary artComment

Last night at the gallery we held a special event at cambridge contemporary art and cambridge contemporary crafts. We invited local bloggers to come and see our new exhibitions. The evening was a lot of fun with plenty of prosecco and delicious brownies from the Gourmet Brownie Company. It was lovely to meet, and chat with, so many friendly, talented people. We started off the evening with a talk by one of our most popular artists Martin Bond. He spoke about his work as a photographer and held a really interesting Q&A session.

We have been very busy recently in both galleries, with parcels arriving on a daily basis full of beautiful work for our Christmas exhibitions.  Last night was a fantastic opportunity to show off all the wonderful pieces our artists have been creating! Everything at the galleries is made by hand by an artist living in the UK – by buying work from the galleries you are supporting an artist making a living from their artwork, as well as an independent, locally owned business!

Special thanks to Katie for organising the event and Gourmet Brownie Company for supplying a delicious range of brownies to eat! The company make their brownies at their Ely kitchen with pure Belgian chocolate and free range eggs from local farmers.

At the event we launched an instagram competition, head over to instagram to get involved and you could win the voucher!

October Exhibition with Niki Bowers, Carry Akroyd and Simon Griffiths

exhibitions, Printmaking, Sculpture, Meet the artistcambridge contemporary artComment

 

Niki Bowers, Carry Akroyd and Simon Griffiths Exhibition

1st – 23rd October

Niki Bowers

Landmark

linocut

Simon Griffiths

Hare (close-up)

ceramic

Carry Akroyd

Hugin & Munin

serigraph

 

Be sure not to miss our Autumn exhibition this year, with beautiful nature-inspired work by printmakers Niki Bowers and Carry Akroyd and sculptor Simon Griffiths.

 

Based in Norfolk, Niki Bowers creates linocut prints inspired by the rural landscape and wildlife surrounding her. Niki makes her prints entirely by hand using linseed oil based inks. If you’ve visited our gallery before, you might have seen one of her popular starling prints gracing our walls.

Painter and printmaker Carry Akroyd has lived most of her life in rural East Northamptonshire. Nature is her favourite subject and her brightly coloured prints depict a wide range of fauna and flora. Carry enjoys experimenting with different media.

Simon Griffiths grew up in rural Durham and this is where he draws his inspiration as well as his great respect for the natural world. He spends a lot of time studying the North Pennine wildlife and countryside before they find their way into his hand built stoneware sculptures.

 

Simon Griffiths

Tawny Owl

ceramic on wood

Niki Bowers

High Summer

linocut

 

Carry Akroyd

Big Turns and Little Terns

serigraph

 

The exhibition runs from 1st until 23rd October. Come to the gallery on Saturday 1st October to celebrate the opening of our new exhibition and meet Carry Akroyd and Niki Bowers from 2 to 4 pm.

Carry Akroyd will be in the gallery again to meet visitors on 15th October from 2 to 4 pm and Niki Bowers will be back on 22nd October from 2 to 4 pm. Come along to the gallery and have a chat with these two wonderful print artists!

Carry Akroyd in her studio

Niki Bowers - Winter Starlings - linocut

Meet the artist - Mychael Barratt

Printmaking, Etching, Meet the artist, exhibitions, Paintingcambridge contemporary artComment

For our new exhibition at cambridge contemporary art, Mychael Barratt has filled the walls with his original prints and paintings,  showing an eclectic mix of themes representing all of his major artistic passions. His work is on show from 3rd -23rd September alongside ceramics by Vicky Lindo, Jane Hollidge and Gwen Vaughan. 

To learn more about the way Mychael works we have asked him a few questions.

How did you get started with your art career?
About 25 years ago, I was walking by the Thames when I popped in to the Royal Festival Hall to get out of the rain. There was a printmaking exhibition on in the foyer and I was so impressed that I started an etching course at Central St Martins the following week. I had been working as a painter before but that was when I started printmaking. 

How do you go about making a new piece?
For big pieces the idea is always the starting point. Once I have the inspiration I start on doing the research and usually don't do any drawing until I've virtually planned the whole thing out in my head. The paintings are much more spontaneous. 

What is your preferred medium/colour pallet to use?
I love both painting and printmaking. As I make them in two separate studios and approach them so differently I couldn't say which is a favourite medium. In printmaking, my heart is definitely in etching.

What inspired the range of work that we have in the gallery?
The work in the gallery was inspired by various things. The 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare has had a huge impact on my work, inspiring at least three pieces. A recent visit walking around Cambridge has obviously inspired a couple of the paintings.

Exit, Pursued by a Bear

A Map of Shakespeare's London

 

We are currently showing your dog works, how do you go about selecting the artist that you paying homage to?
The artists are all ones whose work I admire but the most crucial thing is that little eureka moment when I get an idea that makes me laugh. They are sincere homages made with a huge level of care but are also hopefully quite funny. 

Is it challenging emulating all the different styles of your dog works? What is the style that you are most pleased to have achieved?
Emulating the style of the different artists is always a challenge because it forces me to work in unfamiliar manners. The one I am most pleased with is probably the Turner. I am constantly learning by doing these and painting the Hockney's dogs was definitely the most fun and has probably had the biggest impact on how I paint. 

Turner's Dog

Hockney's Dogs

Which other artists do you admire?
I admire so many artists and have a large art library. In printmaking, Rembrandt, Goya, Hogarth, Chris Orr and Grayson Perry. In painting my heart is definitely with Chagall although I think the way I work is more like Hopper. The list would be endless. 

Could you describe a typical working day?
I divide a typical day up between research and practical work and a perfect day would see me doing some printmaking and some painting. I'm happiest when I have a huge stretch of drawing ahead of me.

How do you see your work evolving in the future?
In the future I plan to do at least a couple more huge maps and carry on with the other strands and themes of my work like the artist's dogs and cats. Really I want to just keep getting better! 

Meet Mychael Barratt in the gallery on Saturday 24 September, 1-3pm. Mychael will be at cambridge contemporary art (6 Trinity Street, Cambridge) showing visitors how he produces his work.

September exhibition at CCA

Printmaking, Painting, ceramics, exhibitionscambridge contemporary artComment

You and your friends are warmly invited to the exhibition preview on Saturday 3rd September from 11 am. You can meet Mychael Barratt at the gallery on Saturday 3rd September, 11-1pm and Saturday 24th September, 1-3pm.

 exhibition runs 3rd -23rd September 2016

Painter and printmaker Mychael Barratt creates works that are full of detail, humour and a great sense of storytelling. He draws inspiration from sources as diverse as fairy tales, historical figures and Shakespearean dramas to classic paintings and pop culture. Mychael has created a range of work that features famous artists and their pets, skillfully re-imagined in the original artist’s style, resulting in a humorous sense of déjá vu.

Mychael Barratt

Edward Hopper's Dog

etching

Mychael Barratt

Stray Cats and Lost Sonnets

etching

Mychael Barratt

Magritte's Dogs

oil on panel

Vicky Lindo Ceramics is the creative partnership of Vicky Lindo and William Brookes. Producing earthenware slip cast ceramics, they use coloured underglazes and slips to illustrate and decorate their tableware and animal figures. We are delighted to welcome them to our gallery.

Jane Hollidge's pots are all made by hand, using coiling and pinching methods. Some are then burnished for smoke firing.  Jane likes to keep the shapes simple and decorates her post with abstract designs in vibrant colours using velvet glazes.

Gwen Vaughan creates figurative sculptural pieces using the traditional technique of pinching. Gwen works with a rich black clay, and carves into the surface to create a texture inspired by the qualities of slate and stone. She uses washes of coloured slip to enhance textural detail.

Vicky Lindo

Bear Pot Black and Gold

ceramic

Gwen Vaughan

Whale

ceramic

Jane Hollidge

Bowl

ceramic

Brenda Hartill, Illona Morrice and Lara Scobie Exhibition

Printmaking, Painting, ceramics, Sculpture, exhibitionscambridge contemporary artComment

cambridge contemporary art is delighted to launch a new exhibition with prints and paintings by Brenda Hartill, sculptures by Illona Morrice and ceramics by Lara Scobie. The exhibition runs from 28th May until 19th June. You and your friends are warmly invited to the exhibition preview on Friday 27th May from 6pm to 7pm.

Brenda Hartill is an innovative British painter and printmaker based in East Sussex. Her work explores the texture, pattern and light of landscape in richly coloured and textured images, often enhanced with silver and gold leaf. Brenda's strong fascination with the primeval, essential structure of the earth and its elements has heavily influenced her prints. While her primary aim is to develop abstract images in the studio, Brenda’s work is firmly rooted in the landscape, and she often finds it necessary to return to it. Whilst known especially for her print-making skills, Brenda has in recent years focussed her attention on a series of watercolours on handmade paper, embossed using her print-making techniques and presses.

 

Brenda Hartill

Cool Sun I

embossed watercolour

Brenda Hartill

Rainbow Storm VI

embossed watercolour

 

Like Brenda Hartill, sculptor Illona Morrice takes her inspiration from the landscape that surrounds her. Living by the sea on the Moray coast in Scotland, Illona uses the rock, stones and wildlife on the beach and in the mountains as a source of creativity. Over the years, Illona has realised she can say more with less, so her sculptures have become more simplified. Her stoneware clay sculptures are individually made by hand, and no two are ever the same. Illona also creates sculptures which are cast in bronze. Each piece is different, and only a small edition is made.

 

Illona Morrice

Penguins

glazed stoneware

Illona Morrice

Terns

glazed stoneware on soapstone

 

Lara Scobie is a ceramicist based in Edinburgh whose work is predominantly concerned with the dynamic interplay between form and pattern. This is explored through the cohesive integration of drawing, surface mark making and volume. Lara is interested in the space that surrounds pattern as much as the hue and texture of the decorated surface. Surface patterns and colour observed in botanical life enable Lara to explore her love of colour and abstract pattern making.

 

Lara Scobie

Bowls

ceramic

Lara Scobie

Set of Pourers

ceramic

 

Brenda Hartill will be giving a talk about her collagraph printing methods, as well as her unique painting and collage techniques on Saturday 18 June at 3pm. Book a free place by email info@cambridgegallery.co.uk, in person at the gallery or over the phone on 01223 324222.

Reg Cartwright, Michael Lythgoe and Sarah Went Exhibition

Painting, ceramics, Woodcambridge contemporary artComment

Grey Still Life with Fish

This May, cambridge contemporary art is proud to present new paintings by Reg Cartwright, accompanied by Sarah Went’s ceramics and Michael Lythgoe’s sculptures. The exhibition runs from 30th April until 22nd May. You are warmly invited to the exhibition preview on Saturday 30th April from 11am to 1pm.

Reg Cartwright is an award-winning painter and illustrator from Leicester whose work has been exhibited around the world. He began his career as a graphic designer and became a full-time painter and illustrator in 1976. As an illustrator, he is well known for a series of picture books for young readers which he created in collaboration with his wife Ann. As a painter, he creates deceptively simple-looking still-lifes in which he renders everyday objects through subtle abstraction to focus on the tone, colour and physical qualities of his subject matter.

Suffolk Estuary

Reg Cartwright returns to cambridge contemporary art for his eighth major exhibition. His paintings continue the tradition of British Modernism, calling to mind that of St Ives School painters Ben Nicholson and William Scott. Working primarily with still life, Reg uses familiar objects such as jugs, plates and flowers as a pretext for examining complex spatial relationships. His paintings are less about the objects he paints and more about achieving a balanced and pleasing composition, attaining this by flattening perspective, omitting non-essential details and focusing on tone.

 

Bewicks Swan

Michael Lythgoe was born in Liverpool in 1950 and trained as an engineer. During a holiday in the Cape Cod region he purchased an old wooden decoy which inspired him to change careers and become a professional artist, creating wooden bird and fish carvings. Inspired by the early North American decoys Michael's stylised curvilinear representations of wildfowl and waders have now evolved into a style and form entirely unique to him. His sculptures are curvaceous and calming, combining the eye of an ornothologist with the precision of an engineer. Each sculpture is unique, carved from blocks of wood and then sympathetically painted.

Two Grass Ruffle Vases

 

Sarah Went is a Cambridge-based contemporary slipware potter who uses the traditional techniques of slip-trailing and sgraffito to create texture and pattern. Her work is hand-thrown on the potter’s wheel and individually decorated. Sarah uses porcelain clay which gives a delicate translucent quality to her work and is perfect for the soft, subtle colours that she uses. When making her glazes, Sarah aims for natural colours reminiscent of the sea, sand and plants around the coast or from her garden. 

Meet the Artist - Marina Bauguil

Meet the artist, ceramicscambridge contemporary art1 Comment

Marina at work in her studio

 

If you have been to our gallery in the past month, you will have noticed the characterful porcelain creatures that are currently populating our front cabinet. These 'Kami', as they are called, are designed to evoke 'the sacred element or spirit which can be contained in everything, expressed in an awe inspiring way.' They are lovingly and delicately created by Marina Bauguil. Marina has answered some questions for us so we can learn more about her wonderful work.

 

How do you go about making a new piece?

Red Fox Spirit

I usually go back to my sketchbook to pick up on my last train of thought. Next, I sit in my work space for a while and become present using a meditative approach, then setting an intention for that working day - this can be as simple as "have fun today" - all the while letting my ideas simmer. After that I get the clay out, put music on and start rolling out small coils, which I hollow out and model. Each piece then appears intuitively, a bit like an information download: I let myself be guided by what the piece is telling me.

 

How did you get started with your art career?

I studied sculpture at Falmouth School of Art and Design for three years and spent a further two studying ceramics in Nottingham. I then worked with a sculptor friend of mine firstly on a community project, then making large sculptures for the artist David Mack. I also worked with a landscape architect making large pieces for gardens and went on to do private commissions for a while, whilst working on my own ceramic pieces in my parents' cellar.

Owl Spirit

What is your preferred medium/colour pallet to use?

Clay is undeniably my preferred medium and over the last two years more specifically paper porcelain. My colour palette changes but I have noticed over the years that I like using turquoise, teal blues and greens.

What inspired the range of work that we have in the gallery?

A long fascination with tribal/ethnographical figurative art traditions such as the Dogū figures of ancient Japan or the Divination figures of Angola. I love the idea that clay holds power, for example, it can be used as a building material for construction or become a recipient for food and water but also a vehicle for the intangible such as emotions,essence or magic. The work in the gallery is partly inspired by this idea, I see my little pieces as contemporary shamanistic objects which hold a power of their own.

Which other artists do you admire?

That's a difficult question as there are so many. I recently discovered the work of Ramesh Nithiyendran which I love, I also admire the work of Claire Curneen, Kristen Brunjes and Grayson Perry.

Wind Spirit

 

Could you describe a typical working day?

A typical working day starts how I described it in the first question. I usually start around 10am and work until 3.30pm when my children come back from school. I often go back to the studio ( which incidentally is my utility room) for a few hours in the evening.

How do you see your work evolving in the future?

My work is a journey, so in a way I discover it as I go along. However, working on such small pieces is a very intense and concentrated process. I used to make very large pieces when I worked in bronze, so I would definitely like to work on larger pieces in the near future.

 

Glynn Thomas Retro-perspective

exhibitions, Demonstrations, Printmaking, Etchingcambridge contemporary artComment

This April, cambridge contemporary art is showing a retrospective of Glynn Thomas’s work in honour of the artist’s 70th birthday.

Glynn Thomas was born in Cambridge in April 1946 and studied illustration and printmaking at the Cambridge School of Art in the 1960s. Glynn then moved to Suffolk, where he is still based today. cambridge contemporary art is delighted to be celebrating Glynn’s career, which spans over five decades. Glynn has been showing at the gallery for over 20 years and is one of the gallery’s best-loved artists. This exhibition will be Glynn’s largest show to date, with hot-off-the-press new etchings, an extensive collection of work created over the last 50 years, and some of his early student work.

 

Cambridge Boat Houses

 

Glynn Thomas specialises in creating limited edition prints from copper-plate etchings which are hand-drawn and painted onto the plate. The entire process, from the direct line drawings in his sketchbook to figuring out the composition and finally etching the plate, is extremely time-consuming. From its conception to the resulting print, one of Glynn's largest etchings can take more than 200 hours of work to create. Each print is individually inked and entirely unique.

St Edwards Passage

 

Glynn Thomas has a very particular take on perspective, hence the title of this exhibition. He often incorporates several points of view to create a more complete overview of a place. In the extremely insightful book "Glynn Thomas: East Anglia, A Different Perspective" by Alan Marshall, Glynn Thomas is quoted as saying:

"I take the view that you are walking through a landscape. You start off with what is in front of you - then I draw what is beyond that and possibly what is behind me. I have a habit of layering things one on top of the other."

He adds that he moved away from traditional approaches to perspective because "Everybody draws things in rectangles, but if you close one eye you see your nose and the elliptical shape of the eye, so I was always intrigued by how each eye sees different things."

Alan Marshall's book is a highly recommended read if you are interested in learning more about Glynn Thomas's work. It is available at the gallery and is £27.50.

The exhibition runs from Saturday April 2nd until Sunday April 24th. You and your friends are warmly invited to meet Glynn at the exhibition preview on April 2nd from 11am until 2pm.

Glynn will also be holding printing demonstrations at the gallery on April 24th from 12 until 4 pm. Do not miss this unique chance to learn how Glynn creates his beautiful etchings. If you would like to attend the demonstrations, please book a free place in person at the gallery, by e-mailing info@cambridgegallery.co.uk or by phoning 01223 324222.

 

The Champion of the Thames

Early Doors

 

Win on Trinity Street!

cambridge contemporary artComment

The businesses on Trinity Street have come together to run a fantastic competition this Easter! Each shop has put an item into a hamper and a name will be picked on Saturday 26th - the lucky winner will take home everything in the hamper!

We are pleased to be working with the other businesses on beautiful Trinity Street, we feel that it is a beautiful street with so many interesting shops and traders. 

From the 19th to 26th March, every time you purchase something in one of the participating businesses, you can enter your name and contact number into the competition, then you will be in with the chance of winning an amazing hamper packed with gifts worth over £600 from Trinity Street shops.

The hamper includes: meals out, artwork, clothing, accessories, toys, beauty products, home gifts and much more. The more purchases you make at any of the businesses involved, the greater chance you have of winning!

The lucky winner of the hamper will be announced at close of trading on Saturday 26th March.

Prizes in the hamper include:

Missoni Scarf worth £120 from Anthony  |  Lambswool Blanket from Brora  |  £50 meal voucher and 3 bottles of premium olive oil from Strada  |  Fairtrade wooden bus from When I Was a Kid Toy Shop  |  £15 voucher from Heffers  |  Raku Boat worth £90 from Cambridge Contemporary Art  |  £50 voucher from Cambridge University Press Bookshop  |  Nail polish set and tote bag from Comptoir Des Cotonniers  |  Ladies scarf, hand cream, necklace and bag from White Stuff  |  Monopoly, the Cambridge edition from Jacks on Trinity  |  Cambridge tote bag from Giles & Co

T&C’s: 1) You must fill in an entry card within one of the participating businesses to be entered into the competition 2) No minimum purchase spend required, any price purchase made will allow you to be entered into the competition. 3) Purchases must be made from within the businesses listed 4) Purchases made after 26th March will not be entered. 5) The hamper and its contents cannot be exchanged for alternative gifts, vouchers or money.

Thank you to Cambridge Bid for working with the traders on Trinity Street to organise this competition.

Meet the artist - Ikuko Iwamoto

Meet the artist, ceramicscambridge contemporary artComment

Like Ruth Molloy, Gael Sellwood and Mani Parkes, Ikuko Iwamoto's work is another very recent addition to our gallery. 

Ikuko Iwamoto

Ikuko started making ceramics in 1990 at Tezukayama College in Japan. She then moved to London to do an undergraduate degree in ceramics at the Camberwell College of Arts and she subsequently completed an MA in ceramics and glass at the Royal College of Art. At the RCA she started to make functional pieces using a slip casting technique using plaster moulds. Ikuko is now a successful artist working from her studio in London and she has exhibited extensively both in the UK and Japan.

All of Ikuko's work is entirely handmade. The main body of a piece is usually created using a slip-casting technique. Ikuko makes all the casting moulds herself by hand. Every part of the decoration, including every single spike, is then individually crafted and attached by hand. All of the pieces are made from porcelain.

Nucleolus Pofupfou Teapot and Spiky Milk Jug

Ikuko's work is informed by her own curiosity about invisible things such as sounds, music and the microscopic world - cells, genes and organic forms. The meticuolous level of detail with which she works is spot on for a subject matter that includes the tiniest of sea creatures and the minutest of micro-organisms.

Ikuko has already achieved critical acclaim and in March 2009, she was awarded the Ceramic Review Prize for Innovation at the RCA's Ceramic Art London exhibition. 

 

Nucleolus Pofu Teapots

How did you get started with your art career?

I went art and craft history BA course in Japan and I started making throwing pots when I was 18 years old.

 

What is your preferred medium to use?

Clay.  I tried to use metal when I was a student at Camberwell, but very frustrated…

Nucleolus Pofu Teapot Closeup

How do you go about making a new cup or vessel?

I draw the shape on the paper first and then make a model with plaster.  Carving plaster by hand, and then I make mould from the model.

 

What inspired the range of work that we have in the gallery?

Microscopic patterns

 

Which other artists do you admire?

Outsider artist especially Henry Darger

 

Could you describe a typical working day?

I drop off my kids to school and nursery in the morning and then go to studio by bike. I work at my studio in Clerkenwell between 9:45am and 2:45pm and then picking up my son from school.

 

How do you see your work evolving in the future?

I make framed sculpture too (www.ikukoiwamoto.com), so I would like to make a lot of art works as well as tableware.

Ikuko's work on display at cambridge contemporary art




Our Mixed Spring Exhibition

exhibitionscambridge contemporary artComment

Spring is in the Air and we're celebrating Mother's Day (Sunday 6th March)

Mums love beautiful unique handmade things and we've got a gallery full of perfect gifts for them!

Our Mixed Spring Show at cambridge contemporary art, which runs till 28th March, has plenty to offer. We are pleased to be showing new artists Victoria Dawes, Laura Lane, Ikuko Iwamoto and Jill Shaddock. Their ceramics are both functional and beautiful to look at. If you really want to spoil your mum, we also have some lovely floral screenprints by Angie Lewin in stock, including the new 'Honesty Blue'. Or be truly original and get your mum this brand new red dress by Joseph Silcott, which is entirely composed of hand-cut butterflies and is sure to put a smile on her face. Come in and browse our gallery for more gift ideas.

Spring is in the Air!

Photographycambridge contemporary artComment

We have a new Spring window display featuring Martin Bond's photograph of Magdalene College daffodils as a limited edition print, greetings card, postcard - all available to buy in the gallery. This month's cover of Cambridge Magazine is also matching! The photograph is a lovely, bright, cheerful image which is part of Martin's Cambridge Diary where he takes a photo a day. This image was taken in 6th April 2015.

Also in the window are Ruth Shelley's glass vases and Helen Martino's ceramic sculptures.

Meet the Artist - Ruth Molloy

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Ruth at work in her studio

 

 

 

Our latest interview is with Ruth Molloy, whose work we are currently showing at cambridge contemporary art for the first time. Ruth is a Bristol-based artist and designer who creates lovely unique rustic sculptures and wall hangings in steel. Each of these are hand-painted with a beautiful rusted patina and then sealed with a satin finish. Ruth hand-finishes every piece so no two are ever the same. The wall pieces come with little copper spacers to hold them out a little from the wall creating a lovely shadow. In addition to her steel artwork, Ruth also creates paintings and limited edition giclee prints of her paintings.

 

How do you go about starting a new painting?

I usually work from a memory of my childhood that has some meaning to me. My family spent their weekends outdoors and I spent a lot of my weekends by the sea or in a boat on Lough Derg in Ireland. My Dad always had a pair of binoculars in the car and he taught us how to look, just to look around and notice things. Birds on the shoreline or a cloud on a headland.

Steel trees, birds, hares and chicken

 

 

When did you start making your steel sculptures and how do they relate to the rest of your work?

In 2013 I changed direction away from painting for a year. This was due to health reasons and from this difficult period emerged a new style of work that I continue to explore. I'm always doodling in my sketch book and I translate these doodles into a vector drawing for the steel cutters to use. My work combines digital technology and rusted patina which creates a style of sculpture that is both unusual and contemporary. My paintings of birds and wind blown trees influence the designs and I've spent a lot of time researching different techniques and finishes to produce something a bit different. The shadow is an integral part of the piece as it shortens and lengthens in daylight and looks stunning when lit by candlelight.

Steel trees

How did your art career get started?

I started my career as a graphic designer and in 2005 took the plunge to try my hand at painting. As I was familiar with having lots of projects on the go at once I still work like this and jump from designing sculptures to publishing cards and painting. When I get stuck in one I can slide across to something else so I feel I’m always busy and creating.

 

Which artists do you admire ?

At the moment I really love the work of Karine Leger. She was also a graphic designer before becoming a painter. Her work reminds me of the beautiful rock formations in the Burren Co. Clare in Ireland. My early work was similar in palette and theme but I didn’t have the confidence as an artist then.

 

How do you see your work evolving in the future?

In the future my plan is to collaborate with interior designers and architects to explore the possibilities of combining technology with traditional mediums in art to create something new.

Ruth at work in her studio

Ruth's work on display in the gallery

 

Passion Flower Wall Piece

 

 

Passion Flower Wall Piece Detail

 

Crab and Lobster Panel

 

Crab and Lobster Panel Detail

 

Meet the artist - Gael Sellwood

Meet the artist, Paintingcambridge contemporary artComment

We are pleased to introduce you to Gael Sellwood. Gael has created a series of paintings for our current Spring exhibition.

We discovered Gael's work at the Cambridge Botanic Gardens, Gael is a RHS gold medal winning botanical and natural history artist who creates highly detailed work. She captures the beautiful but often ephemeral natural objects around us. To find out more about Gael and her paintings, we asked her a few questions:

 

How do you go about starting a new painting?


I am largely colour and texture driven.  By this I mean that the subject – whether a flower, insect, shell or feather - feels right and seems to speak to me until I take it into the studio to start work on it.  I usually have an idea of how a finished piece will look.  I also develop a feel for the layout as I want to recreate a place or a season on the paper simply with the natural objects I find around.

Gael at her desk

Sign of the Times September 

How did you get started with your art career?


I loved biology and art at school.  I especially loved going on a nature walk and gathering small natural objects, plants and flowers and bringing them back to place on the nature table.  We were encouraged to look at the textures and colours and I always felt a connection with the objects.  After leaving school I did an evening class in botanical drawing at Capel Manor College.  It created similar feelings for me to those evoked by the nature table.  I was hooked. To start with I worked part time as a painter whilst having a full time day job.  Over the past few years painting (and some teaching of the subject) has been my main occupation.

 

What is your preferred medium to use?


I LOVE watercolour; especially wet into wet.  I love the slightly uncontrolled aspect of watercolour and how you cannot quite predict the result you will get.  I have been using watercolour for years now, having used oils and pastels at school.  Recently I have been using very strongly pigmented paints and also natural mineral paints, just mixed with glycerin and gum arabic.  These contribute to the resulting colours and textures on paper.

 

What are you currently inspired by?


Colour and texture.  Oh and the seasons.  I love the idea that you can take the viewer to a hedgerow with some primroses and pussy willow, or to a bed in the garden, perhaps tended by a much loved older relative just with a full blown rose on paper.  I am also slightly pre-occupied by the thought of plants that we just cannot manage without.  This is an idea that is just beginning to take shape in my mind.  I will see where it leads but no doubt it will go somewhere.

My Heart Rests in the Garden

Enduring love

My Heart's Beside the Sea

Which other artists do you admire?


I love the clever sparseness of printmaking, especially the work of Angie Lewin and Angela Harding.  My most revered painter is Rory McEwen.  I also admire the work of Albrecht Durer, especially his great piece of turf.  I love the rich colours and patterns of Gustav Klimt

 

Could you describe a typical working day?


When in my studio I start by lighting the woodburner and tuning in the radio or getting an audio book ready.  I then wander round our 3½ acre conservation garden, wood and paddock for inspiration and ideas.  The weather, the light and what I find all play a part in deciding what to do. I then go back into the studio and start with a light line drawing.  Colour and form come next, usually working wet into wet. While topping up the woodburner and listening to the radio or a book, I become engrossed in my work.  The studio has no computer or telephone so I can work for several hours without interruption.  I usually have lots of short breaks though just to keep the work fresh and to make sure my neck doesn't get too stiff.

 

How do you see your work evolving in the future?


Even when I am not in the studio I am thinking about painting.  I may be driving and the wayside plants make me think about compositions or other ideas.  Cuttings from magazines might show combined colours that I think will work well on the paper.  I am interested in developing some work that combines contrasting textures, shapes and colours.  At the moment I am luxuriating in thinking about them. The planning work will take shape this Spring, in between exhibiting and running a few workshops.

 

Meet the artist - Mani Parkes

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We are delighted to introduce you to Mani Parkes. Mani has created a series of paintings for our current 'Art For The Heart' exhibition.

We first discovered Mani's work after seeing one of her paintings on Facebook, and thought her work would be perfect for our exhibition. Each of her pieces are delicately painted, and give a glimpse into the lives of her characters. To find out more about Mani and her paintings, we asked her a few questions:

How do you go about starting a new painting?

If I'm creating work for a specific gallery I like to find inspiration from the local area. I love looking for quirky buildings, landscapes, distinctive features and characters. I find Pinterest is a great source of inspiration. Once I have an idea, I draw a simple doodle in my sketchbook, jotting down ideas as I go. As soon as I'm happy with the sketch I embark on the actual painting.

Sealed with a Kiss

Be My Valentine

Be My Valentine

Guest of Honour

How did you get started with your art career? 

For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to be an artist. My mum has often told me that as soon as I could hold a pencil all I ever wanted to do was draw. As a small child I remember receiving a tin of Reeves watercolour paints for Christmas and it felt like the best present in the world, I can still remember the smell of the paint. 

What is your preferred medium to use?

 I love using Acrylics as they dry very quickly and I’m impatient to add all the tiny details to my pictures. I like to use muted colours building up the layers as I go.

A Lovely Cup of Tea

Love is in the Air

What are you currently inspired by?

At the moment I am inspired by the beautiful county of Dorset. I have lots of lovely photographs and memories from our summer holiday. The charming landscape, beautiful thatched cottages and our children playing on the windswept beaches are an endless source of inspiration.

Which other artists do you admire?

I admire so many artists, Elaine Pamphilon, Dee Nickerson, Emma McClure, Mary Newcomb, Mary Fedden, James Newton Adams and Gary Bunt to name but a few.

Could you describe a typical working day? 

After the school run I cycle home and pop the kettle and the radio on, sitting at my living room table, I turn my simple sketchbook doodles into cheerful paintings. My bulldog Florence is never far away, giving me moral support and snoring very loudly! I paint until my family arrives home. I check my emails in the evening and have a peek at all the lovely artists on Facebook.

'Art for The Heart', Exhibition, Cambridge Contemporary Art

Art for the Heart exhibition

cambridge contemporary artComment

Whether you are looking for some beautiful handmade gifts to spoil your loved ones this February or just for a heartwarming break from winter, our gallery is the place to be!

  cambridge contemporary art will make your heart beat faster with vivid drypoints of hearts and lovebirds by Richard Spare and delicate butterfly collages by Joseph Silcott. We are sure you will also fall in love with the work of two newcomers to our gallery: Gael Sellwood’s beautiful botanical watercolours and Mani Parkes’ charming Valentine-themed acrylic paintings. Or perhaps you have your heart set on Helen Martino’s elegant ceramic sculptures, Gwili’s colourful heart-decorated pottery, or Timea Sido’s distinctive tangled ceramics. McNeill’s glassware with abstract heart motifs make a lovely Valentine’s gift too, as do Helen Russell’s cute sculptures of clay and wood.

To be one of the first to see all the wonderful new work arriving every day at the gallery, see our facebook page and twitter page