PRESS RELEASE:
HENRY WALSH
AFTER THE RAIN
7-28 October 2015
Private View
Tuesday 6th October 6-8pm
Image: Precipitate 8, acrylic on board, 7 x7cm
After the rain comes the sun, after the rain comes a deep breath of new air. Birds take flight and
stretch their wings; freedom, hope and reflection.
Henry Walsh's new paintings begin with moments of every day life, sometimes featuring solitary
individuals, groups or even crowds of people. His process of working removes these figures from
any context of time or location. The exhibition title After the Rain captures one of these moments
and, like many of his painting titles, the meaning is left open to interpretation like a half told story.
Whatever the narratives behind the imagery, Walsh’s work seems to captivate viewers through a
basic human curiosity of other people. We all like people watching to some extent, wondering what
others are doing, saying or thinking, picking out the clues that might answer our desire to know.
In several works there is a sense of shared purpose; groups of people all walking in the same
direction carrying suitcases or searching in the ground for something. But devoid of any setting in
time or place where they are going to, what they are carrying, or looking for, all remains a tantalising
mystery.
Born in 1978 in Norwich, England, Henry studied art at Ipswich College in Suffolk, and then
Loughborough University in Leicestershire. In 2011 he moved to live in the Peak District. He is now
a freelance artist & designer. Henry continues to exhibit regularly in group and solo exhibitions in
London, New York, Scandinavia and Northwest England.
PRESS RELEASE:
In the upper gallery:
LEE SELLERS
THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE
7-28 October 2015
Private View Tuesday 6th October 6-8pm
Image: Stan’s Underwater World, acrylic & ink on canvas, 90 x 150cm
Lee Sellers’ playful paintings illustrate moments in time between people in different scenarios. He
often depicts groups of people, each going about their own business, which upon closer inspection
show various narratives all playing out at once.
He sets scenes in a variety of settings; sometimes known locations such as London’s Piccadilly
Circus, or it may be a coastal town constructed from his imagination, with boats arriving back to a
busy harbour. Sellers then adds in the characters that bring the painting to life. These are sometimes
purely fictious scenarios, but others are real situations he has been in. Maybe it is Sellers’ experience
of working in TV as an actor himself that leads him to construct these scenes as a director would
organise his cast, giving each tiny painted figure a role.
In this exhibition, Lee has two major works which are set underwater. Scuba divers explore an
underwater world of shipwrecks, rocks and deep sea plant-life, amongst an array of different sea
creatures, including fish, sharks, jellyfish and even mermaids. Up above, a small island protrudes from
the water, allowing a volleyball game to take place on its beach, whilst boats pass by either side. It’s
the more hidden figures that are such a joy to discover, (such as a small scuba diving dog) and these
works allow something new to be found upon each viewing.
Sellers plays with the idea of the canvas as an object not just for these figures to be painted on to,
but for them to interact with. Sometimes they are even armed with a paintbrush and can be seen
painting a part of the scene themselves.
Lee Sellers lives and works in London, and has shown with Curwen Gallery since 2010. This is his
second solo show at Curwen.
For press enquiries contact Natalie@curwengallery.com or call 0207 323 4700