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Delphian Gallery - Open Call Exhibition 2019

Delphian Gallery have worked in collaboration with the print space in London, located on the Kingsland road to put together a show collating work that spans photography to drawing to painting. This year's open call saw over 10,000 submissions where artists are encouraged to engage through instagram to share their work through a hashtag. This year saw the wonderful Florence Hutching's (last years solo show winner from the open call in 2018) as a judge alongside others associated with the gallery and show. The other day I went to see the show, and have put together some of my favourite pieces. 

First up we have Nettle Grellier whose large scale paintings explore figures, animals and more in domestic and other settings. I've followed her work for a few months and really engage with how she is confident in her application of line to the surface. Her work may be large scale but she has a real ability to keep each piece intimate and poetic through the composition of figures and colour palette. One of my favourite aspects of her piece 'Daybed' that I love, is the faces of the two characters in the main section of the painting. The simple line is strong and playful. 


Daybed - by Nettle Grellier

The work of Billy caught my attention because of how it sat against other work in the show. There were a few pieces that echoed a similar mark making code but his stuck out because of the dominant red and application to create form. 


Billy Bagilhole - "Blwch Llwch / Ash Tray"

I was drawn to Elliot's piece because it is something I am exploring in my own practice at the moment. The bold strokes act as a focus for the piece which captures a domestic setting and the objects that inhabit it. The artist has been clever at being selective with how certain shapes are blocked out and marks and brush strokes still present. I appreciate work like this because of its confidence.


Elliot Nehra - "The Morning After"

I was drawn to the piece polaroid because of the tonal value and fragmentation of the figure. It made the piece poignant and evocative. There is a sense of movement because of how the figures remain almost faceless. This piece was one of the most intimate ones and it almost looks like a monotype. Work that leaves the viewer questioning how it is made is always beautiful because it adds to another layer of intrigue. 

Michalitsa Kozakopoulou - "Polaroid"




Max Freund - "Flower Bed"

Finally we have Max's work and I chose this piece because of the repetition and sense of organising chaos within certain shapes. I am always drawn to repetitive marks because it provides a sense of rhythm in the work. 


See the show @ Delphian Gallery until the 9th of April 2019





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