Gramercy Park Studios in Soho host Zavier Ellis’ highly anticipated solo exhibition ‘Revolt Repeat’ in partnership with ArtIn Agency and CHARLIE SMITH LONDON.
With a unique perspective on contemporary history painting, Ellis’ practice involves deep research into specific subjects, focusing especially on revolution, resistance and conflict. In this exhibition, he explores the French Revolution, Spanish Civil War, Civil Rights, fall of the Berlin Wall and birth of monotheism. Ellis is interested in the complexity of history and the tendency for events, methods and motivations to repeat themselves with different iterations. He draws on the past to inform the present and warn against the future.
The use of collage in combination with text and a visual symbolism drawn from his research is fundamental to Ellis’ approach. Whilst adopting rhetorical and propaganda techniques, especially focusing on repetition, he deploys imagery and language that reference specific historical and political events. Always fragmented, Ellis embraces the broken, derelict, incomplete and mistaken to invite new meanings and interpretations.
Combined with a distinctive painterliness, Ellis references street signs, historical graffiti, worn posters and the weathered surfaces that form the language of city streets. Recently, Ellis’ work has returned to its source during a project with Flying Leaps. Two works referencing the UK election and Israel’s invasion of Gaza have been printed as posters and fly-posted throughout the UK including London, Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Sheffield, Glasgow and Edinburgh. These works will feature in the exhibition as Giclée editions.
Zavier Ellis, Revolt Repeat, 2nd August – Friday 30th August 2024 Gramercy Park Studios
Private View Thursday 1st August 2024 5-7pm | RSVP |Contact direct@charliesmithlondon.com to confirm | Limited places available
About the artist
Zavier Ellis read History of Modern Art at Manchester University (1993-1996) before undertaking a Masters in Fine Art at City & Guilds of London Art School (2003-2005). Zavier has exhibited alongside contemporary and 20th century artists including Peter Blake, Michael Craig-Martin, Marcus Harvey, Damien Hirst, Julian Opie, Pablo Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Derek Ridgers, Antoni Tàpies, Mark Titchner, Gavin Turk, Keith Tyson and Mark Wallinger. He has exhibited globally including Museum der Moderne, Salzburg; Pera Museum, Istanbul; Torrance Art Museum, Los Angeles; Saatchi Gallery, London; Klaip?da Culture Communication Centre, Klaip?da; Royal West Academy, Bristol; Dean Clough, Halifax; Paul Stolper, London; Galerie Heike Strelow, Frankfurt; Raid Projects, Los Angeles; and ENIA Gallery, Pireas. Zavier’s work is featured in prominent private collections including the seminal Sammlung Annette und Peter Nobel, Zurich and Beth Rudin DeWoody, West Palm Beach.
Zavier Ellis on FAD Magazine
