Paul was born in 1959 in Trivandrum, India, and now lives in London. She makes intense but ruminative work of individuals near her, the areas by which she lives and works, and landscapes of poignant significance. Her work are constructed from life however are pregnant with reminiscence, poetry and emotion, which she imbues in her distinctive painterly language. Her artwork possesses a uncommon tranquillity by which one perceives deep feeling; Paul wrote in her memoir that her work are “so personal and private that there’s nearly a ‘Hold Out’ sign up entrance of them”.
Without delay a singular determine but additionally related to strands of current and historic figurative portray in Britain, she has been admired extensively all through her profession however solely not too long ago been recognised as a significant determine in British artwork of the previous 40 years. She discusses the truth that she started portray earlier than she knew about artwork, however when she was launched to Previous and Trendy Masters, she found El Greco and Paul Cezanne, who stay necessary to her right this moment.
She additionally displays on the compassion in Rembrandt and Vincent van Gogh, the stillness and scale of Agnes Martin, and the elementary energy of the novels of the Brontë sisters. She describes her response in portray to the artists of the College of London, together with Lucian Freud, with whom she was as soon as in a relationship, and Frank Auerbach.
Celia Paul: Colony of Ghosts, Victoria Miro, London, till 17 April 2025 Celia Paul: Works 1975–2025, printed by MACK, £150 (hb)
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Bloomberg Connects gives entry to an unlimited vary of worldwide cultural organisations via a single click on, with new guides being added recurrently. They embody the Yale Heart for British Artwork, which is among the many many organisations on the platform which have proven Celia Paul’s work. If you happen to discover Bloomberg Connects, you’ll discover that the information to the Heart has in-depth options about its exhibitions.
They embody JMW Turner: Romance and Actuality, the primary present there for greater than 30 years to deal with one of many biggest of all British artists. Hear curators and conservators speaking about a few of the key works, from the early image of the Chateau of St Michel in Bonneville, Savoy, to the portray of Inverary Pier on Loch Fyne in Scotland, a usually ethereal and otherworldly picture in Turner’s late type. There are additionally in depth audio options concerning the Heart’s collections, together with masterpieces by John Constable, Gwen John and William Blake, amongst many others.
