Guy Denning

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Guy Denning (born, 1965) is an English contemporary artist and painter based in France. He is the founder of the Neomodern group, a member of Stuckism International,[1] and part of the urban art scene in Bristol.[2] He works from observation.[2]

Contents

[edit] Art

Guy Denning's paintings have been shown in numerous solo and mixed exhibitions. Notable solo shows include 'Same Shit, Diferent Day' East West Gallery, Notting Hill, London, '5/11' Show Red Propeller, Kingsbridge, The Hare on the Hill, Bristol, 2005 and Lauderdale House, London, 2003. His work is held in several important public collections, including the Politics Department of Bristol University and the UK Pituitary Foundation.

Denning's early work included an interest in the work of Franz Kline and was characterised by powerful, expressive brushstrokes. More recently he has combined earlier influences with an increasingly figurative style of painting. The human figure features strongly in his latest work and he uses this subject matter to convey powerful emotions, often with political overtones. The Icarus series of works is an example of this approach. Structurally his work is very dynamic showing a concern for strong draughtsmanship with a spontaneous application of colour. [3] He does not work to set motifs, but makes paintings and drawings from observation.[2]

From 1992, he has exhibited across Britain.[2]

In 1997 he founded the neomodern group. In 2004 he founded the Bristol Stuckists group.[4] His work appeared in the Triumph of Stuckism exhibition at Liverpool John Moores University as part of the 2006 Liverpool Biennial.[1] The show was curated by Naive John.

In 2007 he joined Red Propeller (a successful internet based urban/street/contemporary art gallery) after a tip off from Anthony Micallef. Within weeks of joining Red Propeller his entire back catalogue sold out and his first solo show with Red Propeller virtually sold out within 24 hours.[citation needed]

He sold two works in Bonhams Urban Art auction[2] in New Bond Street in February 2008 with one piece achieving four times the guide price.[citation needed]

[edit] Artist Statement

Though I have produced work in sound, found objects, performance and the written word, the one constant in my practice has been painting. I believe art has a social function and as such artists have a responsibility to engage with an audience that may not be schooled in the finer intricacies of contemporary art theory. I have moved away from painting that engaged directly with the previous histories of High Modernism (something that took up much of my earlier work), and now tend to figurative, sometimes politically directed, work. [5]

[edit] Selected solo exhibitions

Icarus (with God on our side), oil on canvas, 30cm x 30cm  Guy Denning
Icarus (with God on our side), oil on canvas, 30cm x 30cm Guy Denning
  • 2008 'Same Shit, Different Day' Show (on tour) Red Propeller, Kingsbridge, Devon.
  • 2008 'Same Shit, Different Day' show, East West Gallery, Notting Hill, London.
  • 2008 Bonhams Urban Art Auction
  • 2007 '5/11' show at Red Propeller, Kingsbridge
  • 2005 twelve new paintings, Tobacco Factory, Bristol
  • 2005 public art, Hare on the Hill, Bristol
  • 2003 Pride in the House, Lauderdale House, Highgate, London
  • 2002 Guy Denning Solo, Gallery Wine Bar, Bristol
  • 2002 Concrete Arts, Concrete Arts, Bristol
  • 2001 the neo-modern explanation, the cube cinema, Bristol
  • 1998 Round Tower Gallery, Frome
  • 1996 Round Tower Gallery, Frome
  • 1994 Artsite, Empty shop space, Midsomer Norton

[edit] Selected group exhibitions

  • 2005 London Affordable Art Fair, Artfile, London
  • 2005 Stock show, Artfile, Oxfordshire
  • 2004 January Exhibition, Blue Wing Gallery, Richmond
  • 2003 SGFA Annual, Hotbath Gallery, Bath
  • 2003 War and Religion, Salon des Art, London
  • 2003 International Biennale of Contemporary Art, Fortessa de Basso, Firenze, Italy
  • 2003 Brighton Festival, Broad Horizons, Brighton
  • 2003 Pride in the House, Lauderdale House, London
  • 2003 Summer Show, Little Strawberry Gallery, Bristol
  • 2002 September Show, Salamander Gallery, Westerham
  • 2002 Torquay Contemporary Art Festival, The Old Barn Gallery, Torquay
  • 2002 October Exhibition, Torquay Museum, Torquay
  • 2002 TURF 2002, various venues, Reading
  • 2002 Concrete Arts, St Stephens Church, Bristol
  • 2002 Art in Mental Health Touring Exhibition, Pfizer, various locations
  • 2002 Concrete Arts 'Art and Wine', Ernst and Young, Bristol
  • 2001 Language, the cube cinema, Bristol
  • 2001 Festival Art, Ashton Park Free Festival, Bristol
  • 2000 Beyond the Fringe, various locations, Radstock
  • 1996 Black Swan Open, Black Swan Gallery, Frome
  • 1995 c.a.p. Midsomer Norton, Empty shop space, Midsomer Norton
  • 1995 RWA Autumn Open, RWA, Bristol
  • 1994 Cold Bath Gallery Autumn Exhibition, Cold Bath Gallery, Farmborough
  • 1994 Zip C.A., Empty shop space, Sheffield
  • 1994 Avalon Gallery Joint Show, Avalon Gallery, Glastonbury
  • 1993 Group Show, Cold Bath Gallery, Farmborough
  • 1992 Group Show, Royal United Hospital, Bath
  • 1992 A for, Empty shop space, Reading
Icarus (the boy with no hands drowns in the brick machine, oil on canvas, 30cm x 30cm  Guy Denning
Icarus (the boy with no hands drowns in the brick machine, oil on canvas, 30cm x 30cm Guy Denning

[edit] Work in public collections

  • Politics Department, Bristol University
  • UK Pituitary Foundation
  • Bath Royal United Hospital NHS Trust
  • Department of Political Science, University of Ireland Galway

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ a b Sherwin, Brian. "Art Space Talk: Guy Denning", myartspace.com, 14 November 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e Metcalfe, Anna. "Off the streets", Financial Times, 26 May 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
  3. ^ Barber
  4. ^ Stuckism International: Stuckist groups", stuckism.com. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
  5. ^ Denning

[edit] External links