Basil Beattie @ Jerwood Gallery

Above and Below by Basil Beattie

From the Press Release:

Basil Beattie RA is a major figure in the British avant-garde of the late twentieth and twenty first century. Celebrated for his powerful, large scale abstract works, Beattie has become one of Britain’s most respected abstract painters. Beattie was short-listed for the Jerwood Painting Prize in 1998 and 2001. This awe-inspiring exhibition, guest curated by the art historian and critic Mel Gooding, puts into focus Beattie’s most recent work, largely unseen, which shows the continuing influence of American painting from the late fifties, particularly Mark Rothko and Philip Guston.

Many of the paintings in the exhibition feature step motifs, Beattie says of these, "The staircases do not touch the top of the canvas and they don't touch either side. That for me is intriguing, that [there are] ways that look as if one can be optimistic - there's always perhaps the possibility that they don't lead anywhere."

Read John Bunker's review @ Abstract Critical here.

Basil Beattie: Promises, Promises

Through January 8, 2014

Jerwood Gallery

Rock-a-Nore Road
Hastings
East Sussex
TN34 3DW

Gillian Ayres: Early Works 1957 - 1960 @ Jerwood Gallery

Unstill Centre, 1959

Cwm, 1959

Gillian Ayres in her studio, 1958

photographer unknown

Press Release:

'…energy, laid down in colour and transmitted in shockwaves to the viewer’
Broadcaster Andrew Marr on the work of Gillian Ayres

In partnership with the Alan Cristea Gallery, the Jerwood Gallery are delighted to be exhibiting a comprehensive survey of Gillian Ayres' early works, made between 1957-1960. The series of paintings, on display in the public domain for the first time, were the works that first brought Ayres into the public eye and established her as a leading painter of her generation. 

The exhibition marks 30 years since Ayres was elected as an Associate Royal Academician, and over 50 years since she took part in the Art Council’s ‘Situation’, a touring exhibition showcasing the YBAs of the day and which Ayres credits as firmly establishing her reputation as one of Britain’s first and most eminent abstract painters. Gillian Ayres was made an OBE in 1986, was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1989, became a Royal Academician in 1991 and was made a CBE in 2011.

All images are courtesy the artist and the Alan Cristea Gallery

Muster, 1960

Cwm Bran, 1959

Gillian Ayres: 1957 - 1960
October 6 - November 25, 2012
Jerwood Gallery
Rock-a-Nore Road
Hastings
TN34 3DW