Local artists will display their work in a new exhibition from The Walker Art Gallery celebrating the diversity of painting.
The Walker Art Gallery will showcase the work of some of the most exciting contemporary painters in Liverpool. Refractive Pool: Contemporary Painting in Liverpool, which runs from 29 April 2022 to 8 January 2023, features 21 artists who are currently living and working in the city and its surrounding areas.
The exhibition is curated by Liverpool-based artists Josie Jenkins and Brendan Lyons, who approached the Walker in response to what they felt to be a disconnect between many practising artists and art galleries today. In particular, many artists at the beginning of their careers don’t see themselves or their work represented in larger, public galleries.
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Co-curator Josie Jenkins said: "Liverpool’s contemporary painting community represents a diverse mix of individuals and artistic practices, perhaps unified only in their use of the medium of paint and a shared current location. Not all of the exhibiting artists were born here, but they've been able to develop their practice within this city's thriving, supportive network.
"We hope that this exhibition will give visitors an insight into the varied and exciting range of art being made in the many studios around Liverpool, which is too often hidden away from public view."
Katherine Lloyd, project officer at National Museums Liverpool, said: "It's been wonderful to work alongside Josie and Brendan to create this important and timely exhibition. To be able to celebrate the incredible painting being produced here in Liverpool feels very special, especially after what has been a challenging past two years for many practicing creatives.
"Visitors can expect to see a diverse range of subject matter and an interesting choice of materials used, as well as some ground-breaking ways of presenting and hanging the works. In many ways, the exhibition pushes the boundaries of what painting is, challenging our traditional preconceptions."
The exhibition follows the publication of a book compiled by Jenkins and Lyons and funded with support from both a crowdfunding campaign and Arts Council England. Titled Refractive Pool, it features extracts from interviews with 38 Liverpool-based artists, displayed alongside their photographic portraits and images of their work.
As part of the exhibition, the Walker will also present poetry by Paul Farley. Farley was commissioned to write a poem for the Refractive Pool publication.
Refractive Pool: Contemporary Painting in Liverpool is a "pay what you think exhibition", for more information you can visit the website here.
