Portraits | 3rd – 13th March 2022

 

 

 

 

 

PORTRAIT
3rd  – 13th March

ARTISTS

Mauro Menin @men_in_1979

“In my recent series of paintings, I employ both traditional and contemporary techniques to create a visual experience to capture the observer’s attention. One of my goals is to have the paintings possess an abstract quality depicting only what I perceive as essential to the figure. This makes the process of paint application an important part of the whole. I achieve this by using a variety of tools including a brush, palette knife and charcoal. There is a visual map in many of the works that allows the viewer to see my process. Sometimes the initial toning of the panel plays an active part of the final painting, and the viewer is able to see my process.

Essential to the subject of my paintings are the mood and emotions I perceive from the person, that I express through composition and brush stroke.”

 

Jan Scheirs @janscheirspaintings

Jan Scheirs’ work translates the inner emotion into extreme use of color relying heavily on expressionism and fauvism, which is why he likes to use the term ‘nouveau-fauvism’.  Scheirs is based in Antwerp. He has held individual and group exhibitions in Belgium, Holland, Germany (Berlin-Leipzig), and is excited to be exhibiting in London for the first time as part of the “Portraits” exhibition from March 3rd to 13th at the Brick Lane Gallery. 

An important element in Jan’s work is the portrait, where his motive is to portray both an expressionistic and realistic search for the soul of his subject. Theatre drawings have always been an important part of Jan’s research, where he can often be found sketching at a performance to immortalize the fleeting moment of a specific scene. He also sketches live at company parties and can be seen painting large works at public events.

Although Jan integrates day-to-day political themes into his images, he does not take a position on these. He depicts the fragile balance, complicated structures, networks and connections in which an individual can get tangled up. By insertion of popular tormenting ghosts from the Flemish Mythology, Scheirs creates a viewpoint to contemplate the scenes presented. These figures also personify contemporary mentality, in which Reynard the Fox, as the embodiment of evil is unsurpassed. 

 

Stewart Russell @stewart_russell_art

Stewart Russell has always had an interest in consciousness and the countless states of mind one can experience. Through exploring his own sense of self and the many different forms that reside within, he finds that he can express a truer self. The work created through this exploration conveys his willingness to communicate with the viewer. However, the introverted desire to hide from view is always present, as the work displays shades of himself which he’s still not fully familiar with and conjure feelings of vulnerability and exposure. This is investigated through the relationship of body and mind, attempting to give in to the tension of the non-physical through the body that holds it. This tension is presented to the viewer in a distorted – and often abstract and symbolic – way, allowing the viewer to get a glimpse at his consciousness; a moment past, something that was experienced internally and expressed externally.

 

Zsuzsanna Magyarosi 

“I had several solo exhibitions in Romania, two in Hungary and I had the opportunity to have one in London as well, which was opened by the prominent artist, Endre Hevezi.

My work mainly consists of portraits of famous actors, musicians, and not so well- known people , such as street musicians and homeless people.

I aim to provide a contrast between both types of life and make it an eye-opening experience for the audience, with the message that, regardless of our social status, we are all human.

All works have been done with mixed medias (charcoal, pastels, markers) to achieve the desired effect and it was made on toned paper to give a uniform colour scheme to the whole collection.”

 

Katie Manning @ArtbyKatieManning

I have been an artist and an art teacher for the last 30 years. Sharing creativity and inspiring others to develop their creative awareness, watching them experience the gifts we all have is a passion of mine. I am also the mother of three children, the eldest of which was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate.

This collection, when finished, will be 100 portraits strong, and it is to support the global cleft affected community. This artwork is about inspiring a conscious shift in society, how we view each other and how we respond to those in our world with facial differences. I want this work to make us question the authenticity of our interactions with others from a place of compassion, curiosity, and kindness. Cleft and facial difference does not choose; it can affect any family, from anywhere in the world, at any time. 

 

Matt Murphy @mattmurphyart

Brighton, U.K based self taught watercolour portrait artist. A series of abstract portraits exploring form and colour. Some famous faces but mostly everyday people.


Lorenza Catanzaro @Lorenzacatanzaro.design

In my art, I always avoid closing each line to make it infinite. I decide to represent the face because for me it is essential to show moods through my lines. I like to think that when people look at my paintings through never closed lines and two simple colors they can see an already known image, relive the emotions they have already experienced, but with a completely innovative key.

In this exhibition I wanted to exhibit well-known faces, in order to let everyone experience that bridge between a known photo and what lines can create, but also unknown faces, where moods can shine through: a crying child, a woman suffering from a sick love, but also the love of two lovers, that we can see between man and woman, between two men .. and I hope to always see it among everyone.

 

Lauren Robins @lauren_robins5

I am presently focusing on portraiture and surrealism, with an interest in symbolism to feature the unexpected, the uncanny, and the unconscious mind. My work is currently focused on the real and imaginary realm. Faces have always been fascinating to me as every face is unique and different. In my previous works I explored portraiture with exaggerated facial expressions but I’ve decided look further and explore the face when it is most relaxed. I primarily use acrylic paint to create my pieces but have recently been exploring oil paint. I enjoy using the fluidity of the paint to create layers to model the human body and face.

I’ve been exploring the concept of dreams and the relaxed face, with an interest in surrealism and symbolism. My oil painting ‘Dream Catcher’ perfectly depicts this concept. I like to explore a conversation between the real and imaginary realm. My piece consists of a girl who evidently fell asleep after reading a book on Counting Sheep, next to the girl shows a teddy bear and standing over the girl is her subconscious dangling a dream catcher over her head. The dream catcher symbolises protection as it is used to protect sleepers from bad dreams by “catching” them, while letting good dreams pass through. The book on Counting Sheep symbolises the girl falling asleep as Counting sheep is a mental exercise used as a means of putting oneself to sleep. The Teddy symbolises feeling secure and protected. The piece shows a sense of good dreams and good sleep.

 

Mary Millner @marymilllner_artist

Mary Castle-Millner is a multi-disciplinary artist from South London. She exhibited in the BP Portrait Prize and the John Moore’s Painting Prize in 2020/21. Mary ’s earliest surviving picture is a self-portrait in school uniform. She is fascinated by portraits and sees the potential for new media in the digital age. Portrait painting can be more than a record – Mary hopes to show beauty, virtue, talent and other qualities in these new portraits painted from life.


Slavena Kluzakova @slavena_k

London based artist Slavena Kluzakova was born in Czech Republic and lives in the UK for 15 years.
She has an A Level in Fashion Design from college of Arts in Czech Republic .
She always loved drawing/painting fashion and portraits which led her to fashion illustration field.
She has been successfully entering fashion illustration contests and her art’s been noticed by fashion houses such as Versace , Moschino and Marc Jacobs. In 2020 her illustration was chosen by Kim Kardashian as one of 2 winners in illustration competition brought by Selfridges.
Slavena concentrate her art on iconic, fierce and powerful yet mysterious and dream like women in playful and seductive compositions. She focuses on bold patterns and colours , colour mixing and combinations are hugely important to her. All her works are Originals Acrylics on Canvas.

 

 

The Brick Lane Gallery – The Annexe

93 – 95 Sclater Street | London | E1 6HR​

Phone: +44 (0) 207 729 9721

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