Caroline Banks

One-minute blog of interesting things

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As a working contemporary artist I visit many exhibitions and shows, but sometimes it is the things I see that are part of daily life that capture my interest. My one-minute blog of interesting things reflects the fact that although we are increasingly time-poor, there is creativity all around us.

The Ollerod Hotel

I haven’t done a hotel visit for a while and this one was almost accidental. As part of ArtCan I’m participating in Wanderlust, a group show currently held in the public spaces of The Ollerod, a 4 star boutique hotel run by Chris Staines and Sylvana Bandini. More accurately a restaurant with 14 rooms, it’s […]

Helene Schjerfbeck at the Royal Academy

Well, it’s been a long time coming but the work of Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck can finally be seen in the UK at the Royal Academy in London. I was struck by the stillness and spareness of her paintings. The portrait below from 1907 is, in fact, called Silence. Self portraits form an entire room […]

AI: More Than Human at The Barbican

The history of and rise of artificial intelligence fills me with wonder as well as some dread, a combination not uncommon in most of us so this exhibition at The Barbican gives some indication of the current state of play. Beginning in pre-history, the concept of something more than human may be found, moving through […]

Paintings from The Affordable Art Fair, London

Looking at the photos I took at The Affordable Art Fair in Hampstead, I couldn’t help but notice that they were all “quiet” pieces. Was it because I was very tired that day? Maybe I just needed to look at something soothing. Anyway, this doesn’t detract from the quality of the work. Cameron Contemporary Art […]

Lee Krasner: Living Colour at The Barbican

The Eye is the First Circle was one of the first paintings I ever saw by Lee Krasner. The title and concept has resonated with me ever since so I was curious to learn more about her in this exhibition at the Barbican. Her huge abstract expressionist canvases have room to breathe in the downstairs […]

Stretching canvas at Russell & Chapple

You know when you’ve taught yourself how to do something but are sure there are ways to improve? Well, that’s how I felt about stretching canvas. I knew the basics but had plenty of questions about various aspects so attended this workshop at Russell & Chapple with Andrew and master stretcher Toby. It turned into […]

Abdoulaye Konate at Blain|Southern, New York

Malian art isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the first tier of international art galleries so it was heartening to see that Blain|Southern launched their New York gallery with this show by Abdoulaye Konate. Working in readily available local textiles, much easier to source than paints, he creates massive […]

Nine Iranian artists in London. The Spark is You.

Parasol Unit Foundation in London is currently showing the work of nine Iranian artists: The Spark is You. A sister show is also taking place in Venice for the Biennale but I’m only talking about the London one here. It’s a diverse range of work including, amongst others, Sahan Hesamiyan’ s precisely constructed geometrical sculpture […]

Francie Hester at the Susan Eley Gallery New York

I was delighted that my first sale at The Other Art Fair in Brooklyn recently was to the gallerist Susan Eley who bought a small study as a gift for one of her artists Francie Hester currently exhibiting there. After the show I visited her gallery; these images give you some indication of the work. […]