York Art Gallery- Making a Materpiece: Bouts and Beyond 2019/2020

From September 2019 to February 2020 I had the opportunity to be the student artist in residence at York Art Gallery as part of their Making a Masterpiece: Bouts and Beyond exhibition. This consisted of working in an evolving open studio, which was situated in the Project Gallery (pictured above). The work which I made and the studio itself was all drawn upon the centre piece of the exhibition; St Luke Drawing the Virgin and Child from the workshop of Dieric Bouts. Member of the public would also have the opportunity to co-produce work with me in designated workshop as I would give them an insight to my unique printing practice.

Exsploded Floor Tiles: Private View, January 2020

These series of pieces were inspired by the floor tiles in the bouts painting I was responding to throughout my residency. Each shape has been taken from the shapes found within the painting, in order to make my own version of the floor exploded onto the wall. Each piece consists of a bespoke print hand printed with acetate. All the patterns that have been printed are a composition of sections directly taken from the painting, interpretations of the figure, studies of still life or photos of the architecture taken from around the gallery. These pieces were shown at the end of my residency in January 2020 as part of a private view I shared with students from York college.

What Makes a Masterpiece?

-What Makes a Masterpiece?, is a collaboration piece which was produced throughout the residency. This ongoing pieces is a long piece of fabric that can be displayed by draping (as seen in the photos above). This piece consists of prints of visitors ideas and comments that were left on a chalk board asking them what they think makes a masterpiece? Each comment was then transferred onto the fabric using printable acetate and window cleaner, by another visitor.

Personal Masterpiece: Priviate View, January 2020

Personal masterpiece is a collaboration piece that I made with visitors at the gallery. I got participants to join in through drop in workshops that I set up on three Saturdays in December 2019. This was an opportunity to ger visitors all ages and ability involved in making their own versions of personal masterpieces. I would ask the participants to choose a photo they either had on their phone of something they had created or something they deemed a masterpiece. (if they didn’t have one they would have the opportunity to go around the gallery and take a photo of something that resonated with them) I would then show them how to digitally enhance the photo and reflect it into a pattern. After this I would get the participant to photo transfer their image onto fabric with the use of acetate and window cleaner. This piece was displayed at the end of my residency for the private view at York Art Gallery in January 2020.

Residency: Selected Work

My Process

This video is an insight to my practice and the printing process I used when i was in residence at York Art gallery. This is the process that i would show participants during my workshops, when we would co-produce work. it is simple and quick as all you need is a print out on printable acetate and window/glass cleaner. Feel free to watch the video and have a go at home.

Residency: Video

Residency: Portfolio