Cathy's Art Diary

Charming exhibition at Gillian Jason Gallery of new work by Collette LaVette. This work was part of a trend for art inspired by the Rococo. Having recently done a course on Poussin I also felt it had a feel of him. From the blurb I think the work was meant to be more edgy than that but my art historic eye couldn’t get beyond the aesthetic. I was interested to read that LaVette used all natural pigments for the work which made them more muted that the Rococo. They also had a more out of focus quality. I particularly liked the recurring theme of a tiger. C losed 2 March 2024  

Interesting exhibition at the Gillian Jason Gallery of new work by Eleanor Johnson. Johnson does large paintings based on the colour palettes of Old Masters and Renaissance works. They are vibrant pieces with fluid, indistinct figures yet they have the sense of a Rubens. I would love to see them in a bigger space and hung with the works which inspire them. Closed 14 January 2024    

Vibrant exhibition at The Gillian Jason Gallery of contemporary portraits by 10 female artists. I was struck by the bright colours of these mainly large pictures as you enter the gallery and they work just as well in the downstairs space. I liked Olivia Valentine Baynham’s portrait of herself and an artist friend in Klimt like print dresses as well as Naila Hazel’s bright works particularly “Mayhap” of people in the middle of the pandemic reflecting their thoughts on the situation. My favourite was this wonderfully joyous self-portrait of Precious Opara called “In the Bliss of it All”. Closes 17 December 2022  

Beautiful exhibition at the Gillian Jason Gallery looking at how contemporary art is reflecting the roles women have played in protecting the earth. The show took the ancient idea of the nymph, a female figure often linked to a specific place, but challenges the expectations we may have of these figures from the Old Masters. Nine artists were featured over the two-room space. I liked Caroline Absher’s bright, bold picture called “Territory” of a woman in contemporary in a tree reminding us of climate activists. I loved the startling orange background. As well as Precious Opara placed nude black figures face down on beds surrounded by house plants which have an oppressive quality Megan Baker offered a series called “The Felling of Dryad” showing naked figures morphing into their environment, a theme which was also take up in Jasmine Pradissitto’s wall sculptures of realistic faces and leaves. My favourite was Eleanor Johnson with her large Rococo like canvases based on the myth...

Lovely exhibition at the Gillian Jason Gallery of work by five Black contemporary female artists. These were large bold works. Upstairs were works by Alanis Forde which set female figures against exotic botanic backgrounds. I loved their vibrancy and they did remind me of her home of Barbados which I know well. Alongside these were interesting works by Miranda Forrester which were painted in monochrome oil on PVC so the image appeared to float on the picture plain. Downstairs I loved Cece Philips cool images of women in peach pyjamas against grey backgrounds which looked impressive as a set. I also liked Emma Prempeh’s images incorporating gold leaf which I am always a sucker for in a picture. Sahara Longe’s image “The Date” a bold image of a woman in red was impressive and I would like to have seen more by her. Closed 30 January 2020 Review Evening Standard