9 December: Our favourite contemporary artists
We’ve chosen a few of our favourite contemporary artists who often respond to pre-20th-century art history in their practice
We’ve chosen a few of our favourite contemporary artists who often respond to pre-20th-century art history in their practice
Olivia Kemp creates highly detailed pen and ink drawings which bring together art historical and contemporary themes in highly personal and thought-provoking artworks.
Earlier this year, Olivia joined us for a livestream interview which you can watch here
(Touch, ink on paper, 2020)
Sahara Longe often draws on the lost methods of Old Master painting, and the emotional ambiguity and high colour of German Expressionism. Learn more here.
(Three Graces, 2021, oil on jute)
Volker Hermes’ ‘Hidden Portraits’ series modifies Old Master paintings to move away from seeing them as an expression of an individual and instead towards the integration of painting in a social context.
Ruby Bateman work often investigates her personal and political identification with 'the mother' and (institutionalised) motherhood through references to classicism, the spiritual, and her own fiction. Learn more here.
(Another Day With You, ink on cartridge)
Mark Greenfield’s work explores the complexities of the African American experience, both historically and in contemporary society. His series ‘Black Madonnas’ , he explains, “focuses on the mystery surrounding ‘The Black Madonna’ and references to their representations of new beginnings.”
Glory Samjolly’s paintings explore ethnic minority identities in the western world by creating iconic narratives through portraiture.
This painting was part of the English Heritage exhibition ‘Painting Our Past’ in 2021.
(James Chappell, 2021)
Glenn Brown takes the art of previous centuries as the starting point for his own works which feature unsettling images in vibrant colours.
Check out his analysis of Odilon Redon’s artwork in our video here.