Laurence Owen (b. 1984, Gloucester, UK), his practice involves paintings and ceramics based in a language that has echoes of artifact and relic, he employs aspects of Folklore, Paganism and Mythology to investigate contemporary consumerism. Owen’s paintings are swirls and gestures, vivid marks and brightly coloured symbols. He draws upon various source materials, literature, music and contemporary culture to create work that vibrates with life and positivity.
“I’m interested in the fragmentation of different sources from many different elements in art, life, landscape and music, and in trying to construct them together in a false environment…I think this practice creates a kind of surreal yet familiar realm.”
Laurence attended the Royal Academy Schools and received a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art in 2015.
This year he had a solo show at Evelyn Yard, entitled ‘Channel Synthesis’, he was also featured in the John Moores Painting Prize at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.
Laurence Owen Imagining a new constellation 2016 oil on board 89-6-x-63-5cm-
Ben Austin studied History of Art at Reading University. He started Catto Contemporary in Shoreditch where he was responsible for helping to launch the careers of several artists and showed Anthony Micallef and Banksy in a curated exhibition entitled ‘Perverse Pop’ back in 2001. Austin has worked at Art Review, before setting himself up as an independent curator and through Austin Enterprises he staged the legendary Frieze opening night show/party entitled ‘Decadence, Decay and the Demimonde’ at Home House in 2007, which featured art on loan from the Saatchi Gallery (Marcus Harvey, Liz Neal and Barry Reigate). He has also curated exhibition at the Blouin Foundation – ‘After Dark’ series, featuring acclaimed artists such as Alice Anderson. He has been on the judging panel for the ‘Young Masters’ prize. More recently he curated ‘Art Britannia’ during Miami Basel featuring a collection of contemporary British artists and acted as the initial curator and advisor the The Dot Project Gallery in Fulham. Ben Austin acts as an art advisor and dealer. He writes for numerous publications including Artlyst and FAD.
I managed to catch some time with Tunde Olaniran (despite them having a bout of covid) in the world of Zoom to talk about the background to Made a Universe the film itself, the exhibition and plans for the future.
Launching its 2020 season, Somerset House will invite visitors to explore the fascinating world of mushrooms in a new exhibition from curator and writer, Francesca Gavin.
Inês Neto Dos Santos is a Portuguese artist who recently graduated from the Royal College of Arts in London. She has always demonstrated a keen interest in the relation between human beings and the elements surrounding their daily lives.
