Vivid, gestural oil paintings reveal a fascination with emotional states, with the help of unwitting accomplices captured from feature films and the television screen. Subtle in scale: a whisper in the ear rather than a shout across the room, their textured surfaces contain intriguing hints of the depths of emotion below. Forever given pause, these paintings make comment on emotional entanglement with the artificial as a substitute – or perhaps immunisation against- the fluctuating feelings of everyday life.
Vivid, gestural oil paintings reveal a fascination with emotional states, with the help of unwitting accomplices captured from feature films and the television screen. Subtle in scale: a whisper in the ear rather than a shout across the room, their textured surfaces contain intriguing hints of the depths of emotion below. Forever given pause, these paintings make comment on emotional entanglement with the artificial as a substitute – or perhaps immunisation against- the fluctuating feelings of everyday life.
“I pause video, take and edit digital photographs to make compositions. I paint freehand by observation using vibrant colours and textures to convey the twitching dazzle of the arrested TV screen. These self-sourced images hold a deep emotional resonance: a photo is the only way to hold that emotional split second still enough to paint it. I aim to intrigue and engage the viewer in equal measure.”
I want to expand my practice into other media, further commenting on the 'translation' of ideas between media. I have recently joined The Arthouse as a member of the print studio and will be developing ideas through print. I am hoping to develop a recent discovery involving gesture interpreted as sound.
Viv Owen
Studio: A14, Westgate Studios, 55 Westgate, Wakefield WF1 1BW Home: Queensbury
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/viv-owen-43b08911
email: [email protected]
tweet: @vividly
portfolio: flickr.com/photos/vividlyviv/
web: vivowen.co.uk
blogs: vivowen.wordpress.com and vivowen.blogspot.com
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Summary
Born in Bury, Lancashire 1970. Achieved 10 ‘O’ levels at Philips High School, Whitefield. Following a six-year career in graphic design, returned to education to specialise in visual art; Foundation Level at Stockport College Cheshire 1992-93, BA (Hons) at Bradford College Yorkshire 1993-96, and MA at Leeds Metropolitan University Yorkshire 1998 – 2000.
Obtained a PGCE in Post-Compulsory education, working in a wide variety of education settings including colleges, schools, prisons, museums, galleries, outdoor festivals and art studios. Formal qualifications delivered include BTEC in Art and supporting modules. Community based teaching tailored to diverse groups including mental health service users, people with visual impairment, school children, family groups, the general public, fellow artists, and one to one art tuition.
Studio based painting practice based on freehand oil painting from digital sources. Regularly exhibits as part of Artwalk Wakefield. Exhibitions include FLUX at the National Army Museum, London March 2019, FLUX at Chelsea College of Art, London April 2018 and July 2017, FLUX at the Royal College of Art, London December 2015, Oxo Tower Wharf, London December 2015, Menier Gallery London July 2016, Times Square New York USA 2014, The Art Cell Barcelona Spain 2006.
Formal Lecturing
November 2019 – present: Leeds City College, Rothwell Centre
(through Reed, Toronto Square, Leeds LS1 2HJ)
April 2019 - May 2019: HMYOI Wetherby
(through Reed, New York Street, Manchester M1 4HN)
December 2016, December 2017: Leeds University
(through Creatives Artreach, Huddersfield HD3 3JX)
September 2003 - June 2007: Shipley College, Saltaire, Shipley BD18 3JW
November 2001 - 17 Sept 2004: HMP Wakefield
(through East Riding College, Beverley, HU17 7DT)
Nov 2000 - May 2004: HMP/YOI Moorland, Hatfield, Lindholme (through City College Manchester, M13 0WQ)
Selected Solo Exhibitions
31 Jul 2019 - 1 Sep 2019: ‘Pause/Play’ The Project Space, Westgate Studios WF1 1BW
10 Aug 2018 - 30 Sep 2018: ‘42 Sketchbooks’ Electric Angel Gallery, Scarborough YO11 3HB
3 March – 2 April 2017: ‘Light View’ South Square Centre, Thornton BD13 3LD
30th May - 28th June 2014: ‘Display’ Cupola Gallery, Sheffield S6 1TD
Selected Group Exhibitions
21 Sep 2020 - 31 Oct 2020: 'Prosaic: Generous’ Globe Arts Gallery, Slaithwaite HD7 5AG
14 Mar 2019 - 17 Mar 2019: ‘FLUX 6' National Army Museum, Chelsea SW3 4HT
10 Feb 2019 - 5 May 2019: ‘Bradford Open’ Cartwright Hall, Bradford BD9 4NS
23 Nov 2018 - 5 Jan 2019: ‘Human’ Cupola Gallery, Sheffield S6 1TD
11 – 16 April 2018: ‘FLUX 5' Chelsea College of Art, London SW1P 4JU
6 – 19 July 2017: ‘Portraits’ Bureau Centre for the Arts, Blackburn BB1 6HQ
23 February – 5 March 2017: ‘Portraits’ Candid Arts Trust, London EC1V 1NQ
1 – 6 November 2016: ‘FLUX 3' Old Truman Brewery, London E1 6QL
16 – 20 December 2015: ‘Exhibit Here Art Maze’ Oxo Tower Wharf, London SE1 9PH
11 – 14 December 2015: 'FLUX 2’ at the RCA Royal College of Art, London SW7 2EU
18 – 22 February 2015: ‘FLUX’ Rag Factory, Brick Ln London E1 5LJ
24 July 2014: 'Art Takes Times Square’ Billboards, Times Square, New York
Freelance Community Projects
2007 – present Creatives Artreach Huddersfield
2016 Calder Graphics Huddersfield
2009 – 2014 DIVA Wakefield
2011 – 2014 Wakefield Visually Impaired Group Wakefield
2011 – 2012 One to One Productions Wakefield
2008 AMADA Batley
2008 – 2010 Artworks Bradford
2009 – 2010 Sensation Huddersfield
2009 Artforms Leeds
2007 - 2011 Colour out of Space Hebden Bridge
2005 - 2007 Pontefract Liquorice Trust Pontefract
2005 –2006 Leeds City Art Gallery Leeds
2005 South Asian Womens Health Awareness Association Bradford
