Zavier Ellis x Sam Jackson | Sometimes Always | Duo Exhibition | Charlie Smith London, Soho, London

Gramercy Park Studios hosts the first exhibition of collaborative paintings by Zavier Ellis and Sam Jackson.

Ellis, known for his gallery and curatorial projects, and leading contemporary artist Sam Jackson, have worked together since Ellis spotted Jackson’s work at his Royal Academy Schools final show in 2007. In recent years, the two artists have begun to show with each other, and now make work together.

As solo artists, their work inhabits very different territories. Jackson is recognised for his intensely psychological portrait paintings, often at an intimate scale. Conversely, Ellis is known for often monumental abstract works that combine expressive painting, text and collage.

As a duo, a new methodology is in play. Ellis begins the paintings in his usual manner, although on canvas rather than board, as is typical. But before working them to completion, he feeds the formed but incomplete canvases to Jackson. They are open paintings, works in progress, and Ellis provides technical and theoretical conundrums by using mixed materials and collage elements, providing a range of stimuli from matte or gloss paper to the painterly canvas surface.

This provides a new challenge to Jackson, who ordinarily paints directly onto the manufactured base tone of board, with no ground or previous contact, no primer, underpaint or sizing. Furthermore, prior to receipt of each canvas, Jackson has no idea of the condition of each painting. With each work, a new terrain of impasto paint, torn collaged paper, staples and text has been applied, glued, wrapped and layered onto the canvas which must be renegotiated anew each time.

URLs:
Instagram: https://go.evvnt.com/2636040-2?pid=5072
Exhibitor: https://go.evvnt.com/2636040-3?pid=5072

Category: Arts | Visual Arts | Galleries / Art

Artist: Zavier Ellis X Sam Jackson