There’s something about splashy abstract painting that moves me in a way I can’t explain and here’s another artist who does it for me. I first saw Gail Harvey’s work a few years ago at the London Art Fair where I took this photo. I can’t tell you which gallery showed her work as there […]
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. Email me at info@carolinebanks.co.uk with your name and email to receive a weekly post that only takes 1 minute to read.
Jameel Prize at the V&A London. Post 2 of 2
This isn’t a fully comprehensive list of finalists for the Jameel Prize at the V&A, just the ones I found particularly intriguing. Trained in the art of miniature painting, Wardha Shabbir enters a meditative state when producing these pieces: she really does paint with a single-haired brush for some details. I loved the way the […]
Jameel Prize at the V&A London. Post 1 of 2
Going to the V&A on a Friday evening recently, I took refuge from the hordes to look at the Jameel Prize exhibition which was surprisingly deserted. Perhaps because it had already been running a while? Who knows. Painter Hayv Kahraman’s beautifully executed paintings combine the traditions of medieval Arabic illustration and European painting to explore […]
Courtauld Impressionists from Manet to Cézanne at the National Gallery
As the Courtauld Gallery has closed for refurbishment for a couple of years, someone had the brilliant idea of showing a selection of the classic Impressionist paintings for a few months at the National Gallery The original Courtauld catalogue above lists the entire collection, a selection of which are on show and it was revealing to […]
Artists at The Other Art Fair, Victoria House London. Post 2 of 2
Here are more snapshots from previously featured artists and new ones from the show which was in 2 venues: Victoria House and The College, former St Martin’s School across the road. This large golden-lit skyscape from Alex McIntyre stood out on her stand. Secret Art Prize winner Michelle Loa Kum Cheung juggled showing here with work […]
Artists at The Other Art Fair, Victoria House London. Post 1 of 2
It’s always interesting to visit The Other Art Fair at Victoria House in Holborn though I did rush round as I’m really focussed on my preparations for The Other Art Fair in Brooklyn in a few weeks. Anyway, here are a few images of work worth mentioning: Hanna ten Doornkaat showed some more architectural pieces this time […]
Hiding in Plain Sight: Female Abstract Expressionists in 1950’s and 60’s America at Amar Gallery
Go down the stairs at Amar Gallery in Islington to encounter a gem of a show about the female Abstract Impressionist artists working at the same time as those male painters we’re already so familiar with: Pollock, Rothko, De Kooning, Newman etc. It was a very macho movement with the women producing work of equal power and […]
Unreal Estates curated by Amanda Lwin
Looking for a place to rent or buy with a few original features? Then why not go to Unreal Estates, an exhibition curated by my former studio-mate Amanda Lwin in a real estate agency, Homefinders, at 146 Kingsland High Street, London. Exploring the current housing situation, she’s brought together a group of writers […]
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: 4 of 4
The architecture room at the RA Summer Show is full of beautifully produced models and drawings. This huge one ( coming in at 2.3 x 1.3 metres and 45cm high) however, of the Google’s View Mountain Campus in California, designed by Thomas Heatherwick and BIG, fascinated me with the amount of detail and how lovingly […]
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: 3 of 4
Another piece from the Blue Room was this glorious hanging by El Anatsui, aptly named Change in Fortune, made from his traditional bottle tops stitched together. The whole piece is a beautiful shimmering sweeping stroke on a grand scale. This geometric hand folded polyester film by Tony Blackmore impressed me with its delicacy and complexity. A […]