Figure, Sensation & Memory

An exhibition of paintings by Roger Adams, Sally Barnard, Liz Crossfield, Netta Jennison and Carolyn MacLeod

At the Atrium Gallery, Emily Ball at Seawhite Studio, Seawhite of Partridge Green, Star Road, West Sussex RH13 8RY.

June 22^nd  - September 13^th 2019.

Opening Preview:  Saturday June 22^nd  2019, 10 am - 4 pm. 

Exhibition continues until 13^th September 2019. Visits by appointment only Monday - Friday only. 

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange a visit.  

Figure Sensation & Memory is a stunning new exhibition of contemporary painting, opening in June at the Atrium Gallery at Seawhite in West Sussex. Curated by Emily Ball (director of Emily Ball at Seawhite Studio) and featuring the work of five artists, all of whom regularly attend courses at the Seawhite studio, the exhibition is a beautiful and thought-provoking reinterpretation of the figure in paint.

As the title suggests, the exhibition is more than just paintings about the human form. Each of the exhibiting artists has concerned themselves with the figure, but the way in which they engage and paint this subject is hugely varied:

• Roger Adams’ work is centred on the solitary female figure and the idea that one image can contain identities.
• Sally Barnard was surprised to find wooden Madonnas as her muse, following a visit to St Agnes convent in Prague. After contemplating the women’s varied expressions, she started to paint them, sensing that each Madonna had a story that needed to be told.
• Liz Crossfield’s paintings are influenced by her yoga practice and are concerned with capturing the breath in paint. For her, the figure is about a reconnection between body and breath and a reawakening of the senses. 
• Memory lies at the core of Netta Jennison’s paintings, inspired by a family heirloom, the Norwegian national dress that has been worn by four generations of women in her family. The figure she depicts wearing the dress tells a story of traces; of the past and of belonging.
• Carloyn MacLeod uses her camera as a drawing tool to find images of people that intrigue her. She places equal emphasis on the figure as she does colour and pattern, each element becoming a means through which the process of painting can be explored.

Figure, Sensation & Memory is not only about taking a refreshing look at a timeless subject, it is also an opportunity to get up close with artworks that are about the process of painting itself.  What motivates these artists is a delight in discovering how they can create their own visual language in paint. The passion and confidence with which they approach has resulted in paintings that are a visual treat bursting with energy and beauty.