Artists Statement
‘Rosalind Davis reveals herself to be a visionary artist of sensitivity and complexity. Her mixed media paintings of dystopian landscapes incorporate embroidery and floral-print textile…they conjure up a claustrophobic world of the uncanny.’
Andrew Bryant, A-N ( Artists Newsletter) July 2009
Davis seeks out structures in areas of social deprivation, which may initially seem hostile or neglected, yet which serve a vital function to the individuals and groups connected to them. Davis explores these powerful themes of transience and survival, community and isolation.
Davis fuses painting, collage and embroidery onto printed floral fabrics, selected for their historical, cultural and symbolic representations.
This complex relation between mediums is integral to the pieces. Embroidery is used as a mode of paint. The meticulousness of the textiles, its intimate and alluring qualities are used to emphasise the fragility of the spaces depicted and the disconcerting juxtaposition between aesthetics and meaning.
Davis studied at Chelsea College of Art and the Royal College of Art. Davis has had several solo shows in London and exhibitied in many prestigious shows nationally and internationally. She has been selected for the Clare Morris Open, the Fringe MK painting prize and the New Cross Art prize as well as Salon 08 by luminaries such as Andrea Tarsia, Head of Exhibitions at Whitechapel Gallery.
Davis was commissioned for the first fine art exhibition at The Roundhouse in 2009 which then toured to the Theatre Opt De Markt in Brussels; the International Circus and Theatre Festival. Recently Davis was in Floorplan at Brighton Phoenix Gallery and participated in an artist’s talk with Zoe Whitley, Curator of Contemporary Collections at the V&A.
Rosalind also has a blog on Artist’s talking on A-N (www.a-n.co.uk) which has received much acclaim, winning 2009’s blog of the year . It was also selected by Matt Roberts (Matt Roberts Arts) as a choice blog of the month in July 2009.
Rosalind was a guest speaker at the 2009 Stroud International Textiles festival and is a freelance lecturer and creative practitioner.
Davis has paintings in both public and private collections and shows with Long and Ryle Gallery as well as with independent curators, gallery and project spaces. Rosalind has a studio at Cor Blimey Arts in the art hot spot of Deptford, London.
Born England, 1980.