Exhibition, 27 Jan—13 Feb 2022, Zabludowicz Collection
Just… As an Artist is the exhibition that celebrated our first Arts Council England supported Artist Residency and collaboration with the Zabludowicz Collection. From September 2021 to January 2022 painter Sikelela Owens has been running workshops in our studio at Portugal Prints sharing her practice and ideas with our artists. Together we have made portraits, prints, maps, photo transfer paintings and more, turning the studio into a space to learn, to make and to be curious.
This final exhibition showcases a curated selection of work by PP Artists made in their time at Portugal Prints and in response to Sikelela’s presence in their studio. The mix reflects the breadth and diversity of their lived experiences of artists and their approaches to making images that represent their lives. At the heart of the installation, is a collaborative wall drawing made multi-handed by Sikelela and various PP Artists representing our studio space, printing, placing and overlaying imagery that symbolises their being part of the PP community.
‘Just... As An Artist has been an important journey in creating new work, learning new skills and sharing new ideas. Just... As An Artist is a statement that addresses how our artists wish to be seen, and how art can shape the way we all see ourselves.’
Patrick Conlon, Manager, Portugal Print
‘In the second year of the pandemic, the Zabludowicz Collection wanted to support vulnerable local artists who are most affected by Covid and the social isolation that came with it. [...] Our aim was to help them find an artist of international repute who would bring out the excellence in an exhibition of works by their artist’s community and we have been delighted to bring Sikelela on board.’
Elizabeth Neilson, Director of Zabludowicz Collection on the partnership
