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February by Matt Bannister (framed)
Here’s my work ‘February’ that Croydonians may also recognise from the banners hanging from lamp posts in and around the town (See previous post). Not surprisingly there were lots of great pieces by the artists at the exhibition at The Mall Galleries. There is now an online catalogue to view the show here.
Montage using Glenn Foster photography
Three designs of lamp-post banners - featuring slices of my paintings ‘February’, ‘People’ and ‘Night Flowers’ are now hanging up and repeated on the High Street and elsewhere in Croydon. Alongside them are some other really bright, eye-catching works on banners by local creatives Miguel Sopena, Divya Sharma, Skye Baker and Melanie Russell. The Creative Croydon initiative set up by Croydon BID has returned to Croydon town centre this Winter creating an open-air art gallery for people to enjoy.
Thanks so much to Julia at 31% Wool and the Check Out Croydon team for making this happen. Thanks to Glenn Foster for taking these photographs, too. The whole display of work is up until April 2024.
For more background to the project visit Croydonist.
This is the fourth year of their Open exhibition with more selected artists than before, so the show has been split into two. Part 1: Paintings & Drawings (24th June - 30th July), Part 2: Original Prints & Mixed Media (5th August - 10th September).
The Town House is an amazing building tucked in a corner of Spitalfields: a gallery, shop and coffee shop that has been in an early eighteenth century building opposite Hawksmoor’s Christ Church for more than twenty years. Well worth visiting if you can (and to see my painting in the flesh, of course). 5 Fournier Street, London, E1 6QE. Open Tuesdays to Sundays.
5 Fournier Street, London, E1 6QE
Christchurch, Spitalfields: the Town House’s impressive neighbour (view shown here from Commercial Street)
The proud parent posed with his offspring! Selected by Eileen Cooper RA for her Room IX.
I did these pieces in the first lockdown and since then they’ve been on the wall of my studio. Really glad they’re going to be seen by a larger audience than just me! ‘No Stopping’ and ‘Push Button And Wait’.
David Remfry was one of the judges for the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition in 2020, that I was also in, and ultimately chose my painting ‘Check Your Travel’ as the winner of the inaugural Cityscape Prize.
This year saw 11,204 entries from the public with 998 artists making the cut and 1,613 artworks featuring in the exhibition.
You can watch a nice tour of the show here. It’s effectively a walk around after everyone has gone home. Can you spot my paintings? They are there, I assure you.
The back of my head admiring the wall of work I was featured on (bottom left). Photo: Sam Mortimer
Pause (II). 2022. A recent painting. Acrylic on wood panel. 30.4cm x 30.4cm. A response to experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The competition organisers said:
This year's competition saw a record 11,225 entries, 452 of which have been longlisted. We want to extend a huge thank you to all of the artists who entered the competition this year, we appreciate how much effort goes into every submission. We continue to be amazed by the talent year on year. The shortlist will be announced on the 30th of March. View the longlist and vote for your favourite artworks to win the People's Choice Award here. By voting, you will automatically be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a £150 Jackson's Gift Voucher.
Voting for the People’s Choice Award ends on 6th of April and you if just want to vote for me the direct link to my painting is here. You do have to register but hopefully that won’t take too long. Thanks!
