Acclaimed Welsh painter Shani Rhys James is the subject of a new exhibition titled ‘States of Mind’ from May 22nd -14th of June, which showcases a series of new paintings. The show, to be hosted by London’s prestigious Connaught Brown Gallery, will allow contemplation of work which focuses on the push and pull of motherhood and work, life and death, abstraction and figuration, loss and gain. The work considers the conflicts that reside within the artist herself. Shani’s intriguing themes are often based on exploration of the domestic arena, family interactions and the practice of the artist herself.
“For over forty years Rhys James has been an unwavering voice for a generation of female painters and central to the development and promotion of Welsh contemporary art.
In this exhibition, Rhys James focuses on the conflict and co-existence of two opposing states: life and death, home and the studio, motherhood and work, beauty within darkness. These dualities are represented by the juxtaposition of figures and objects, flowers displaying the temporality of life and glory of nature, and thick daubes of paint creating abstraction within figuration. This body of work represents a period of fluctuation, with Rhys James seeking to understand life’s paradoxes.
States of Mind is Rhys James’ seventh solo exhibition at Connaught Brown. Rhys James has been awarded numerous prizes including the Jerwood prize in 2003, the National Portrait Award, Mostyn Open, Hunting Prize, the Gold Medal at the National Eisteddfod of Wales and an MBE for services to Welsh art. In 2020, Charleston Trust held a retrospective of her work. Rhys James has also been the focus of many documentaries, including the 2014 BBC show What Do Artists Do All Day and the 2021 The Story of Welsh Art also on BBC. Her paintings are in such collections as National Museum, Cardiff; National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth; Arts Council of England; Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow; Victoria Gallery, Bath; Jerwood Foundation; Pallant House Gallery, Chichester.”
The painter’s contribution to the cultural world has been recognised over many years and her awards include receiving an M.B.E for services to Welsh art in 2006.
STATES OF MIND
22 MAY – 14 JUNE
Connaught Brown, 2 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4HD
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