The best art exhibitions coming up in Bristol and the Westcountry – selected by the Friends of the RWA…
Here’s our pick of the best art exhibitions and events happening in and around Bristol and the south west – including a look ahead to upcoming features….
AT THE RWA
RWA 171 Annual Open Exhibition
14 September 2024 – 5 January 2025
The RWA’s most popular exhibition returns, with over 600 works on display covering a vast array of media including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, film, sculpture and architecture by artists ranging from leading professionals to emerging talent, from across the UK and beyond.
This year’s invited Artist is Rana Begum, RA. More info
Academician Candidates’ Exhibition 2024
10 September – 03 November 2024
Each year, the RWA invites the shortlist of Academician Candidates to exhibit a selection of their recent works alongside the Annual Open Exhibition. During this time, the current Academician body will anonymously vote for the Candidates they would like to see become Academicians. More info
Image top: Mountain Ridges, Chowwai Cheung
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Compiled by Sue Quirk and Laurel Smart
1) VERA BOELE-KEIMER: CROSSING THE LINE
UNTIL 7 SEPTEMBER, STROUD VALLEYS ARTSPACE, STROUD, GLOS
Bristol-based artist Vera Boele-Keimer is presenting a new body of work, exploring the rich relationship between textiles and painting. Merging structural ideas with intuition, materiality, imagination and movement, Vera produces work that draws attention to the processes and imperfections of making. Her grid-based compositions ask questions about the relationship between surface and ground, pattern and movement, drawing and painting.
The starting point for Vera’s current work is the parallels she sees in the crossing of lines to create visual surfaces and the crossing of threads to create woven surfaces. Anni Albers’ description of fabric as “pliable plane” resonates with the artist who uses the material qualities and characteristics of painting to create works that cross the line – between object, drawing, textile and painting.
2) ROB STOPFORD & ULICK PALMER: PHOTOGRAPHY @ GREENWAY STUDIOS
8 – 22 SEPTEMBER, GREENWAY STUDIOS, ASHBRITTLE, SOMERSET
An exhibition by two local photographers.
3) WOMEN IN ABSTRACTION, GROUP EXHIBITION
11 SEPTEMBER – 10 OCTOBER, ATKINSON GALLERY, MILLFIELD SCHHOL, STREET, SOMERSET
An exhibition showcasing the limitless creativity of women artists. Featuring artists:
Patricia Volk, Georgina Towler, Jenni Stuart, Saroj Patel, Yvette Miller, Emma Housley, Toni
Davey, Gina Cross, Cath Bloomfield, Elaoise Benson, Anita Bell.
4) UMBER, GROUP EXHIBITION
13 – 18 SEPTEMBER, CENTRESPACE STUDIOS & GALLERY, BRISTOL
Watching the leaves change colour, the influence of the moon and the harvest season makes Autumn a time of reflection. Inspired by the natural umber colour pallet, we are using wood, print, weaving, painting, floristry, textiles and ceramics to show our creative interpretation. We would like to celebrate this sense of a shared love for Autumn by bringing it to the City.
Artists: Martha Opher, Sophie Bowen, Holly Goldsmith, Sanni Pyhänniska, Amber Bardell, Bob Watson, Lily Sparey, Rachel Opher.
5) LANDSCAPE, STEMS AND FORM, GROUP EXHIBITION
17 SEPTEMBER – 5 OCTOBER, ARTIZAN GALLERY, TORBAY, DEVON
An exhibition of works by three Devon based artists, Ali Hirst, Jane Hirst and Kathy Nettles, two painters and a potter. The trio of artists share a deep desire to understand their local environment and landscape, and to convey this understanding to their audience.
The two painters, Jane and Kathy, work in natural materials such as oils, linseed and wood and both work directly from their chosen subject. Kathy usually starts with abstract marks on paper as she captures the lines, light and atmosphere of a place, then refines and finishes her work back at her studio. Jane, also works directly from nature beginning her process en-plein air having spent many days getting to know the space intimately, and then finishing her work back at the studio. Ali’s creations are brought to life in clay. She has developed a combination of slabbing, coiling and sprigging techniques.
6) THE TIME IS ALWAYS NOW: ARTISTS REFRAME THE BLACK FIGURE
UNTIL 29 SEPTEMBER, THE BOX, PLYMOUTH, DEVON
Curated by writer Ekow Eshun, this exhibition showcases nearly 50 works of painting, drawing and sculpture by 22 of the UK and USA’s most important living artists. The works have all been made since 2000 and highlight the use of figures to illuminate the richness and complexity of Black life. As well as surveying the presence of the Black figure in Western art history, The Time is Always Now examines its absence, with large-scale, dazzling works that ask questions about race, identity, history and more.
Displayed across multiple spaces at The Box, this is the only chance to see the exhibition outside of London before it travels to America. The Time is Always Now features 1998 Turner Prize winner Chris Ofili, 2017 Turner Prize nominee Hurvin Anderson, 2017 Turner Prize winner Lubaina Himid, 2023 Turner Prize nominee Barbara Walker and Michelle Obama portraitist Amy Sherald. Works by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Michael Armitage, Jordan Casteel, Noah Davis, Godfried Donkor, Kimathi Donkor, Denzil Forrester, Claudette Johnson, Titus Kaphar, Kerry James Marshall, Wangechi Mutu, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Jennifer Packer, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Thomas J Price, Lorna Simpson and Henry Taylor are also on show.
7) JILLY EDWARDS: FOLLOW THE THREAD
UNTIL 12 OCTOBER, NEW BREWERY ARTS CENTRE, CIRENCESTER, GLOS
Jilly is an incredibly accomplished weaver who has exhibited her work internationally across Europe, Japan and Australia across her 50+ year career. Her style has been described as like “painting with wool” and while abstract plays with both colour and subtle texture. She draws inspiration from her travels and both sketches and collects ephemera to take back to her studio.
WATCH OUT FOR
- PARMINDER KAUR: NOTHING IS FIXED UNTIL 10 SEPTEMBER This exhibition focuses on the intersectionality of identity; how society, family and education inform unique combinations of discrimination and privilege JOHN HANSARD GALLERY, SOUTHAMPTON
https://jhg.art/whats-on/ - ELISABETH FRINK AND BRIDGET MCCRUM: SHAPED BY SCULPTURE
UNTIL 23 SEPTEMBER Their work shown together brings to light a story of friendship between two important female sculptors of the last century – a kinship based upon shared passion and mutual respect. MESSUMS WEST, TISBURY, WILTSHIRE
https://www.messums.org/exhibitions/elisabeth-frink-and-bridget-mccrum/ - TOULOUSE LAUTREC AND THE MASTERS OF MONTMARTRE UNTIL 29 SEPTEMBER This is the only chance to see Lautrec’s complete collection of posters exhibited together in the UK before it moves to its permanent home at the Musée d’Ixelles in Belgium, following a five-year international tour. VICTORIA ART GALLERY, BATH https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/event/toulouse-lautrec-and-masters-montmartre
- ADEBAYO BOLAJI: IN PRAISE OF BEAUTY UNTIL 29 SEPTEMBER The solo exhibition demonstrates the kaleidoscopic and multidisciplinary world of Adébayo Bolaji, exploring and questioning notions of beauty through painting, sculpture, film and writing.
ARNOLFINI, BRISTOL https://arnolfini.org.uk/whatson/adebayobolaji/ - BEATRIZ MILHAZES: MARESIAS UNTIL 29 SEPTEMBER Tate St Ives presents a retrospective of the work of artist Beatriz Milhazes, who is known for intensely colourful, large-scale abstract canvases. TATE ST IVES, CORNWALL https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-st-ives/beatriz-milhazes-maresias
The Floating Circle 