ANGELA LIZON RWA
ANGELA LIZON RWA
ABOUT
“My work explores ideas and subject matter often taboo in art, such as the sentimental, the cute and the nice. The painting style transforms and elevates the original throwaway kitsch image so it cannot be dismissed as merely a “bad painting”. The subject matter is simple, strong and “in your face”. These subverted cliches confront us with our ideas of what is considered “good” and “bad” taste and question our cultural standpoint – the gap between the art world and the creativity of everyone else – “My taste is better than yours”.”
"I work on a variety of ideas at any time which cross influence and inform each other, moving between themes and scales, working from photographs that I collage and manipulate on the computer. I am interested in kitsch and ideas of cultural status as portrayed in the history of Fine Art painting, status symbols exemplified by Stubbs' horses. I use cheap ornaments and imperfect snapshots, repositioning these items within the context of the "Fine Art" world, painting them in oils, converting cheap items to visions of worth and value. Making use of kitsch is not the same as making kitsch. By subverting clichés and removing them from their original disposable status glorifies and immortalises the subject and at the same time can render it disturbing in its absurdity.
The ornaments I use are bought cheaply from charity shops and car boot sales, never for more than a couple of pounds. I search for the pathos or sentimentality within an ornament, finding intrinsic value and worth within discarded and unvalued objects, plus something a little off-key. The ornaments have their own mystery and narrative. Who made it and for whom? Did the creator believe in its artistic value? Who originally bought it? Who threw it out to be finally valued for so little? A history of taste is contained within these little ornaments."
Also related to these concerns with "throwaways" is the more recent work with old photographs bought cheaply from anonymous sources on eBay - the faded, blurred, damaged and indistinct ones. These can have beautiful unplanned qualities. Painting these images renders them, and the unknown people within them, universal and eternal. Her latest work with the butterfly men was brought about by disgust at the macho posturing of some of our current world leaders. This coincided with the finding of some old photographs of body builders. The addition of the wings neutralises the original intention of the pose.
Angela’s work plays with images that have their roots in the disposable kitsch culture of her childhood – an era of knitted swimming costumes, doilies, figurines and plastic flowers. She takes various components from photographs and objects, removes them from their original cosy surroundings, then merges and reforms them with a new emphasis on their peculiarities. Although the final paintings contain a large dose of mockery, the scale and the technique of Angela’s paintings celebrate and elevate a culture that has often been dismissed as inferior.
Angela gained a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Bristol Polytechnic. She was awarded a scholarship by the Polish Government and the British Arts Council for post-graduate study at Krakow Academy of Fine Art in Poland. She has received recognition for her work including acceptance for The Threadneedle Prize Exhibition for painting and sculpture in 2010 and inclusion in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition with Cowboy Joe from Mexico from the Colossal Cat series – one of the hits of the show that year.
She was elected an Academician at the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol in 2017. She currently lives and works in Bristol at her studio at Spike Island.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2021
RWA Open Exhibition Bristol
2019
RWA Autumn Exhibition, Bristol
Group Show, Lane House Arts, Biddestone, Wiltshire
Small Works, the Stratford Gallery, Stratford on Avon
Perfectly Formed, Andelli Art, Wells
"Body and Soul". RWA, Bristol.
2018
Collaboration with David Alesworth for Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan.
"Radiant", That Art Gallery, Bristol
RWA Autumn Exhibition, Bristol
"Bird Watching". That Art Gallery, Bristol. 8th - 30th June.
Elected an academician at the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol.
Beinart Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2016
National Open Art , The Mercer's Hall, :London. 27th October - 4th November
Solo Project, Basel, Switzerland, with Coates and Scarry.
Oriel Davies Open Painting, 2016, April 16th - June 15th. Newtown, Wales
Strange Worlds: The Vision of Angela Carter 10th December 2016 - 19th March 2017. Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2015
"Menagerie". Solo show at Gallery 8, Duke St, London. With Coates and Scarry.
Secret Postcard charity auction at the RWA, Bristol
RWA Annual Open Exhibition, Bristol
Conversation Pieces, Test Space, Spike Island, Bristol
Beaux Arts, Xmas Show, Bath
2021
RWA Open Exhibition Bristol
2019
RWA Autumn Exhibition, Bristol
Group Show, Lane House Arts, Biddestone, Wiltshire
Small Works, the Stratford Gallery, Stratford on Avon
Perfectly Formed, Andelli Art, Wells
"Body and Soul". RWA, Bristol.
2018
Collaboration with David Alesworth for Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan.
"Radiant", That Art Gallery, Bristol
RWA Autumn Exhibition, Bristol
"Bird Watching". That Art Gallery, Bristol. 8th - 30th June.
Elected an academician at the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol.
Beinart Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2016
National Open Art , The Mercer's Hall, :London. 27th October - 4th November
Solo Project, Basel, Switzerland, with Coates and Scarry.
Oriel Davies Open Painting, 2016, April 16th - June 15th. Newtown, Wales
Strange Worlds: The Vision of Angela Carter 10th December 2016 - 19th March 2017. Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2015
"Menagerie". Solo show at Gallery 8, Duke St, London. With Coates and Scarry.
Secret Postcard charity auction at the RWA, Bristol
RWA Annual Open Exhibition, Bristol
Conversation Pieces, Test Space, Spike Island, Bristol
Beaux Arts, Xmas Show, Bath
SELECTED ARTWORKS
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS (Click for full details)
PAST EXHIBITIONS (Click for full details)
