In Conversation: Jo Dennis, Sam Cornish, Stewart Geddes and Paul Moriarty

 

In conjunction with Monuments, Hales is pleased to present an in conversation with Jo Dennis, Sam Cornish, Stewart Geddes and Paul Moriarty, moderated by Paul Hedge.

Monuments is a special project by Paul Hedge, Hales Gallery co-founder, and London based painter, Paul Moriarty. Taking place at London's Thames-Side Studios, Monuments brings together specially selected monumental abstract paintings by three legendary artists and contemporaries, John Hoyland RA, Albert Irvin OBE RA and Basil Beattie RA. The exhibition is a starting point to explore these artist's practice, oeuvre and influence.

 

Jo Dennis (b. 1973, Forres, Scotland) studied a BA in Fine Art and Contemporary Critical Theory at Goldsmiths College (2002) and a Masters in Painting at the Royal College of Art (2022).  She is the co-founder of Asylum and AMP Gallery which are artist led spaces in London. She is the co-founder of Pigeon Park and Peckham 24 photography festival. Recent exhibitions include, Absent Without Leave a solo show with Sid Motion Gallery, Positions at Alma Pearl Gallery and Ares at Cromwell Place curated by OHSH Projects. In 2020 she self published her artists book I touched this with my hand, I touched that with my eye with an essay by David Campany.

 

Sam Cornish is a writer and curator, with a particular interest in abstract painting and sculpture. He is co-editor of the catalogue raisonné of John Hoyland's paintings on canvas. His publications include Frank Bowling: Sculpture (Ridinghouse, 2022), John Hoyland: The Last Paintings (Ridinghouse, 2021), Mali Morris: Painting (Royal Academy, 2019), Stockwell Depot 1967-79 (Ridinghouse, 2015), John Panting: Sculpture (Sansom & Co, 2012). He curated or co-curated the exhibitions Frank Bowling: Sculpture (University of Greenwich Galleries, 2022), John Hoyland: The Last Paintings (Sheffield Museums, 2021), Kaleidoscope: Colour and Sequence in 1960s British Art (Arts Council touring exhibition, 2017-18), and John Panting: Spatial Constructions (Adam Art Gallery, University of Wellington, 2013).

 

Stewart Geddes is a painterly, colourist, abstract artist.  He studied at Bristol Polytechnic (UWE); City University, London; and the Royal College of Art.  After graduating from Bristol, Geddes moved to South London and it was during this period that he got to know both Albert Irvin and Basil Beattie.  These encounters deepened his curiosity toward non-figuration. In 2019, Geddes curated Albert Irvin and Abstract Expressionism at the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol which looked at pivotal moments in Irvin's development toward abstraction, particularly through his encounter with American painting at the Tate Gallery during the late 1950s. Most recently Geddes has collaborated with Radiohead's drummer Philip Selway, in developing paintings that explore the character of Selway's music in his third solo album Strange Dance. 

 

Paul Moriarty (b.1961) is a painter and educationalist born in Southeast London. He attended Goldsmiths BA and Chelsea MA in the early to mid-1980s. He currently works at Thames-Side Studios, Woolwich.

 

Attendance is free but seating is limited and on a first-come first-served basis.

Monuments is on view at Thames-Side Studios through Sunday 30 July 2023.