Vanessa Garwood
Biography
Born in 1982, Vanessa’s work initially focused on portraiture and in developing a language of oil painting through both commissions and her own subjects. These themes ranged from narrative storytelling, male nules, dancers, also performance collaboration. In 2020 her practice shifted in subject and medium to include acrylics and ceramics, working to explore more personal themes. These recent paintings observe contemporary women, giving weight to moments or feelings that are perhaps awkward or unseen. They are fragments of the artist’s memories and imagination, often using satire to express an empathy and compassion for conflicting emotions.
Selected Exhibitions and Events
‘Story Circles’, Sim Smith London, solo show, Sept 2025 https://www.sim-smith.com/exhibitions/61-story-circles-vanessa-garwood/overview/
Residency at ‘Anchor Studios’ Newlyn, BSJW Trust 2025
‘Fractured Venus’, Cooke Latham Gallery London , group show, Jan 2025 https://www.cookelathamgallery.com
‘In Una Brezza Leggera’ Fondazione Memmo Rome, group show, Dec 2024 https://fondazionememmo.it/in-una-brezza-leggera
Residency at ‘Anchor Studios’ Newlyn, BSJW Trust 2024.
‘Present Tense’ Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Group show Jan 2024 https://www.hauserwirth.com/hauser-wirth-exhibitions/present-tense
‘Vessel’ Group show, OHSH projects London, August 2024 https://www.ohshprojects.com/vessel
Solo show Vanessa Garwood at PMAM Gallery 2024, https://www.newexhibitions.com/e/63474
‘Poison’ Group show, OHSH projects London, Dec 2023
‘Small is Beautiful’ Group Show, Flowers 2022, 2021
National Portrait Gallery, Group show BP award, 2020 https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2020/bp-portrait-award-2020/exhibition
National Portrait Gallery, Group show BP award, 2019 https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2019/bp-portrait-award-2019
National Portrait Gallery, Group show BP award, 2018, click here.
‘Dancing Lines’ Royal Opera House, Paul Hamlyn Hall, 2019
National Portrait Gallery, Group show BP award, 2018
Solo show ‘And is it True’, Rook and Raven gallery 2015, https://www.meer.com/en/17369-vanessa-garwood-and-is-it-true-it-is-not-true
Links to selected articles.