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 […]
One-minute blog of interesting things
Subscribe to my blog
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. Email me at info@carolinebanks.co.uk with your name and email to receive a weekly post that only takes 1 minute to read.
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. […]
Cul-de-sac by Phyllida Barlow at the Royal Academy
Moving around uncertain and tenuously balanced space, a sense of instability and the deception of materials, all are elements for me of Phyllida Barlow’s work in this exhibition at the Royal Academy. What seem to be massive blocks of concrete are skimmed bits of plywood. Bent wire and painted plaster structures affect the space around […]
Les Colombes by Michael Pendry in New York
This installation, currently on at the Episcopal Church of Heavenly Rest, right next to the Guggenheim in New York, gives the viewer time to pause and reflect. You walk straight in from the street into a dark and quiet space. Sit, or walk around to appreciate the sculpture – the choice is yours. Michael Pendry’s […]
Mike Nelson’s Asset Strippers at Tate Britain
Currently on at the Duveen Gallery at Tate Britain, Asset Strippers by Mike Nelson is a poignant elegy to Britain’s manufacturing history, so much of which has now disappeared. Machines and equipment, much of which is from the textile industry and with remnants of their function, are arranged as sculpture throughout the space Fibre fluff […]
The newly restored Pitzhanger Manor
The country house of Sir John Soane, Pitzhanger Manor has recently reopened after an extensive restoration by Julian Harrap architects and Jestico + Whiles so I leapt at the offer to visit. Originally built by Soane’s former boss, George Dance, the house was in the country yet only 8 miles from London so within walking […]
Pierre Bonnard – The Colour of Memory at Tate Modern
I managed to catch this Bonnard show in the last couple of weeks at Tate Modern and am glad I did. It wasn’t the popular paintings that intrigued me the most but the self portraits which contrasted so much with the “happy” idyllic image of his work historically depicted in the media. The Boxer, from […]