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Isabel Rock
Large Surrealist Painting Royal of College Art LGBTQ+ Woman artist Blue Bicycles

2015

About the Item

Isabel Rock is a creator of contemporary fairy tales. A graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, her work is an explosion of strange occurrences while a surreal narrative takes the audience on a journey into the imagination. Hugely inspired by Paula Rego, Isabel Rock is part of a formidable group of women artists (Leonora Carrington and Eileen Agar amongst others) working with Surrealism. In October 2023 Isabel won the Evelyn Williams Drawing Award at the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize. Known as the UK’s most prestigious annual open exhibition for drawing; part of the prize is a solo show at Hastings Contemporary, scheduled for 2024. Whilst Isabel always has a tale to tell for each of her images, you may or may not choose to go on the journey with her or you may indeed have a different story, one of your own that jumps off the page at you and that that you decide to follow. Artwork Details: Isabel Rock, The Twin Towers of Glob, mixed media on archival paper. 153cm x 122cm, unframed, 2015 *Please note we are happy to ship this work rolled in an art tube. Whilst the work is on heavy duty art paper and mixed media, the artist is happy that the painting will be fine rolled in a tube. This is a more cost effective and environmentally sound method of shipping. Shipping via this method is free Rock always has a tale to tell surrounding her images. Whilst you may choose to go on the journey with her she explains that its also ok to have your own idea of what is going on. You may indeed have a different story that you decide to follow. The Twin Towers of Glob In Rock's own words, 'In the City of Glob, near the great river of Goulash, in the shadow of the mountains of Gloop, people love to ride bicycles. It is certainly the best form of transport for the residents of this sprawling metropolis. The distances between destinations are long and tiring for those with only two legs, it is highly recommended that travellers rent a bicycle to make the most of their visit. The boulevards are wide and open, lined with blue palm trees and the architecture is mainly pyramidical. Glob is famed for its Twin Towers which overlook the low lying pyramids and can be seen from any point in the city, making it hard for even the most vague of travellers to loose their way. The towers were built by the twin Kings Globulon and Globuloff in the very early part of the Globulonic Empire. Also of note are the Tattooed Birdmen which nest in the higher regions of the Twin Towers. In recent years the population of Tattooed Birdmen has swelled due to them having no natural predators. They have become quite a pest and caution is advised when out and about as they are known to take handbags, hats, jumpers, shirts, shoes, scarfs, even ripping off trousers and underwear. In fact any item of clothing is fascinating for them and they covert them greatly. The interesting thing is that they do not wear these clothes, simply secrete them in their nests, although little is known about what they actually do with them and why. Many locals simply go naked to avoid this theft.' Artwork Provenance: from the Artist Studio A certificate of authentication comes from Gallery Art 1821 photo credits, Isabel working, black and white shots, James Brown About Isabel Rock and her work: Taking inspiration from Japanese woodblock prints and Indian miniature painting Rock has developed a unique collage technique that combines bold structures with large-scale woodblock prints and intricate detailing. The subject is a grand mixture of humour, drama, hidden morals, fanciful characters, modern culture, mythical beings and fantastical situations. Rock creates a world that pulls you in and demands your attention. Quality of line is paramount, the drawings are created using a dipping pen and acrylic ink. An essential tool is a squirrel’s hair brush that gives incredible fine lines and was purchased on her travels in India. Born in Hammersmith, London in 1981, Rock knew her destiny was to be an artist. Studying Fine Art Printmaking at The University of Brighton and graduating with First Class Honours in 2004 she went on to do a Masters Degree at The Royal College of Art in London, continuing her studies in printmaking and drawing, graduating in 2008. Her first solo show at Bearspace Gallery in Deptford, London in April 2009 sold out and was the beginning of a career that continues to rise. Rock participated in the first ever India Art Fair represented by Art 1821 Gallery, where her detailed and intricate work was met with great appreciation from collectors and public. She has since participated in international residencies in India, Iceland, Germany and West Africa as well as building up her portfolio and exhibiting at various galleries internationally. In 2013 she won the prestigious UK Arts Foundation Printmaking Fellowship, a £10,000 award given to emerging artists in certain fields, only six are awarded each year. This funded a move to Berlin as the vibrant art scene in the city seemed to be the perfect place to make the next steps in her career. The city proved to be a valuable creative inspiration as it was here that Rock began to explore the written side of her visual stories, which she now performs at spoken word nights. Rock sat out the pandemic in her port-a-cabin studio near Reading, UK, creating a series of large-scale collages and writing surreal short stories. In 2021 she was awarded a Special Commendation in the renowned Trinity Wharf Drawing Prize. Shortly after this she was evicted by the local council and is currently living and working in London where she also enjoys roller skating, growing sweet peas, reading novels and thinking up new and wild things to draw. Rock exhibits widely and has a long list of exhibitions and shows to her name. In 2019 her work was selected for exhibition at the Royal Academy in the London Summer Show and in 2021 she was selected for the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize. Isabel Rock's work is held in Public Collections including the V & A in London and the Royal College of Art, London and also in many private collections in the UK and India. Shipping: Please note this artwork will be shipped in a professional, wide art tube and will be sent rolled. The cost for shipping will therefore be considerably cheaper than the amount quoted.
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