SARAH ARMSTRONG-JONES PATHWAYS
SARAH ARMSTRONG-JONES PATHWAYS
PATHWAYS It’s all in the approach. Firstly, serving as a sort of all-in-all frontispiece to the show, there’s a large line drawing in which cleared spaces gradually reveal themselves amidst studio clutter. It looks exploratory. What have we here? A summary account I’d guess of the processes of turning certain places and things into what will amount to a complete body of work.
So far so good and in the actual studio there’s plenty to take in: raw materials ranging from a dusty armful of last year’s lavender to admirable pebbles and dampish spreads of moss. Furthermore there are recent watercolours of wooded hillsides, the raking October light rendering them theatrical, leading us to agree that in landscape above all revelations await.
Caithness Coast 2019 O i l on ca nva s 25.5 × 3 0.5 cm
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Where are we now? Several paintings place us in theatre or cinema stalls waiting for the curtain to rise or the screen to come alive. And then, facing
outdoors again, we are transported from
Fragile and tenacious these finds are more
Sussex chalk and thyme to Caithness granite
than specimens. They line the pathways we
and peat, from the South Downs northwards
follow into the profusion of the natural scene.
to where the Atlantic squeezes into the North
Which is where Sarah Armstrong-Jones is at
Sea between Hoy and the cracked rock faces
her most celebratory, foraging for whatever
of Dunnet Head.
may prompt and ultimately involve us wherever we are, beside the wall or straying
One after another places and things that
beyond into the dusk or incipient mist.
have caught the painter’s eye are absorbed into brimming compositions. We come up
It’s good to see the forms evolving as she
against boundary walls, themselves composed
realises them with such imaginative precision.
from chalk, lime, flint and maybe the odd brick. Specifically Sussex walls haphazardly
W i l l i a m Fe a ve r, 2 0 1 9
consolidated like weathered Dundee cake. Then there are scabby lichens, soured green curlicues picked from the paths where they’ve fallen, hips darkened and wizened into deepest crimson, treasured samplings of moss and fungi, growths that sprout and cluster in walls, hedges or under foot, thriving only where the air is cleanest.
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S u s s ex Tra c k I I 2 0 1 9 O i l on c anvas 3 5.5 × 3 0.5 c m
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D o o r wa ys , E a s t C o a s t 2 0 1 6 O i l on c anvas 3 0.5 Ă— 25.5 c m
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O l d S u s s ex Wa l l s 2 0 1 9 Oil on c anvas 3 0.5 × 3 5.5 c m
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I n t e r i o r, E a s t C o a s t 2 0 1 7 O i l on c anvas 2 0 Ă— 25.5 c m
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G re a t B a r n 2 0 1 9 Oil on c anvas 25.5 × 20 c m
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Fi e l d Wa l l , S u s s ex 2 0 1 9 O i l on c anvas 76 × 51 c m
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G re a t B a r n W i n t e r, We s t S u s s ex 2 0 1 9 O i l on c anvas 2 5.5 × 20 c m
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Boundaries 2019 Oil on c anvas 25.5 × 20 c m
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Moss and Lichen 2018 O i l on c anvas 2 0 Ă— 20 c m
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B o r ro w e d L i c h e n 2 0 1 9 O i l on ca nva s 2 0 × 3 0.5 cm
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B o rg a n t a s s i G ra ve l 2 0 1 6 O i l on c anvas 2 0 Ă— 25.5 c m
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Outside the Art Schools 2016 O i l on c anvas 2 5.5 Ă— 3 0.5 c m
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Lo n g M e a d o w 2 0 1 9 O i l on c anvas 76 × 5 6 c m
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N o r fo l k I n t e r i o r 2 0 1 7 O i l on c anvas 2 0 Ă— 25.5 c m
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T h e C o a s t , G re e c e , S u m m e r 2 0 1 8 Oil on c anvas 3 0.5 Ă— 25.5 c m
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Late Autumn 2016 O i l on c anvas 2 0 × 20 c m
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O a k Le a ve s , N ove m b e r 2 0 1 8 Oil on c anvas 3 0.5 Ă— 25.5 c m
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Chalk Boundary 2019 O i l on c anvas 3 5.5 × 3 0.5 c m
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Studio Morning Light 2019 O i l on c anvas 2 0 Ă— 20 c m
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Studio Space 2019 Oil on c anvas 20 × 20 c m
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E d i n b u rg h C i n e m a 2 0 1 9 O i l on c anvas 2 0 Ă— 3 0.5 c m
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C h a l k Wa y I I 2 0 1 9 Oil on c anvas 3 5.5 × 3 0.5 c m
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Studio am 2019 Pe n a nd ink on paper 5 8 Ă— 76 c m
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O a k Po s t , We s t S u s s ex 2 0 1 7 Oil on canvas 30.5 × 15 cm
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After Summer 2017 Oil on c anvas 20 × 20 c m
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S u s s ex Tra c k 2 0 1 9 O i l on c anvas 3 5.5 × 3 0.5 c m
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S c o t t i s h S t i l l L i fe 2 0 1 8 O i l on c anvas 3 0.5 Ă— 25.5 c m
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R e h e a rs a l 2 0 1 9 O i l on c anvas 2 0 Ă— 20 c m
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Tu l i p s , S u s s ex 2 0 1 9 Oil on c anvas 3 0.5 × 25.5 c m
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Tu l i p s , L a t e S p r i n g 2 0 1 9 O i l on c anvas 2 5.5 × 20 c m
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Fi e l d Wa l l 2 0 1 9 Pe n a nd ink on paper 2 1.5 Ă— 1 5 c m
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Downland, Summer 2019 Pen an d in k on paper 1 5 Ă— 21.5 c m
G a rd e n , S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 9 Pen an d in k on paper 1 5 Ă— 21.5 c m
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East Coast, Morning 2019 Wa t e rc ol our an d g ouac he on paper 15.5 Ă— 20.5 c m
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E a r l y E ve n i n g , O c t o b e r 2 0 1 9 Wa t e rc ol our and g ouac he on paper 15.5 Ă— 20.5 c m
Morning, Scotland 2019 Wa t e rcol our an d g ouac he on paper 15.5 Ă— 20.5 c m
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After Rain, Morning, October 2019 Wa t e rcolou r and g ouac he on paper 15.5 Ă— 3 8 c m
Highlands, October 2019 Wa t e rcolou r and g ouac he on paper 15.5 Ă— 3 8 c m
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B ro u g h t B a c k f ro m t h e N o r t h 2 0 1 8 O i l on c anvas 2 0 Ă— 20 c m
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O c t o b e r, S c o t l a n d 2 0 1 8 Oil on c anvas 3 5.5 × 3 0.5 c m
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Early Autumn 2017 O i l on c anvas 3 0.5 × 25.5 c m
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R e h e a rs a l , M o r n i n g 2 0 1 7 O i l on c anvas 2 5.5 Ă— 3 0.5 c m
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After the Summer 2017 O i l on c anvas 3 5.5 Ă— 3 0.5 c m
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L a t e S u m m e r, S c o t l a n d 2 0 1 8 O i l on c anvas 3 0.5 Ă— 3 5.5 c m
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H e d g e ro w, A u t u m n 2 0 1 8 O i l on c anvas 2 5.5 Ă— 20 c m
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Saplings, East Coast 2018 O i l on ca nvas 2 0 × 3 0.5 cm
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After the Summer 2017 O i l on c anvas 3 5.5 Ă— 3 0.5 c m
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Oak Lichen 2019 O i l on c anvas 3 5.5 × 3 0.5 c m
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Te r re Ve r t e L i c h e n 2 0 1 9 O i l on c anvas 2 5.5 × 3 0.5 c m
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Stone Bowl I 2016 O i l on c anvas 2 0 × 25.5 c m
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Stone Bowl II 2016 Oil on c anvas 20 × 25.5 c m
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Golden Lichen 2019 O i l on c anvas 3 0.5 Ă— 25.5 c m
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Oak Lichen 2019 Oil on c anvas 3 5.5 × 3 0.5 c m
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S a ra h A r m s t ro n g -J o n e s Biography 196 4
B or n in Lon d on
1982- 83
C a m b e r we l l S ch ool of A r t, Fo u nda ti o n
198 4- 85
Mid d l e s ex Pol y t e ch n ic, Pri nt ed Tex t i l es
1985- 8 8
Roya l Aca d e my S ch ool s, U nderg ra du a te D i p l o ma
198 8
Win s or & New t on P r iz e , Roya l Ac a demy S c ho o l s
198 8- 91
Roya l Aca d e my S ch ool s, Po st g ra du a t e D i p l o ma
1990
C re swick La n d s ca p e P ri z e, Fi rst Pri z e a nd S i l ver M eda l ,
Roya l Aca d e my S ch ool s
1995
First ex h ib it ion a t t h e Redfern G a l l er y
1998
Roya l Aca d e my ‘ S u m m er Ex hi b i t i o n’ , T he M & G Pu rc ha s e Pri z e
2007
Ju d g e a t t h e ‘ Dis ce r n ing Eye’ ex hi b i ti o n
Solo Exhibitions 1995
Re d fe r n Ga l l e r y, Lon d o n, ‘ Rec ent Pa i nt i ngs a nd D raw i ngs ’
1999
Re d fe r n Ga l l e r y, Lon d o n, ‘ Rec ent Wo rks ’
2003
Re d fe r n Ga l l e r y, Lon d o n, ‘ Rec ent Wo rks ’
2006- 07
Re d fe r n Ga l l e r y, Lon d o n, ‘ N ew Pa i nt i ngs a nd D raw i ngs ’
2010
Re d fe r n Ga l l e r y, Lon d o n, ‘ Rec ent Wo rk ’
2015
Re d fe r n Ga l l e r y, Lon d o n, ‘ N ew Pa i nt i ngs a nd D raw i ngs ’
2019
Re d fe r n Ga l l e r y, Lon d o n, ‘ Pa thways ’
Selected Group Exhibitions 1990
C a d oga n C on t e m p ora r y, Lo ndo n (two - p ers o n s how w i t h
Fra n ce s Ma n n )
1992
B oh u n Ga l l e r y, He n l ey-o n-T ha mes , ‘ Wi l l i a m Pa c ker:
A C r it ic’s C h oice ’
Ma l l Ga l l e r ie s , Lon d on , ‘ [C o l l ec to r ’s C ho i c e, C hri sto p her L l oyd] ,
Dis ce r n in g Eye Ex h ib it i o n’
1993
Re d fe r n Ga l l e r y, Lon d o n, ‘ S u mmer Ex hi b i ti o n’
C h r ist ie ’s , Lon d on , ‘Ad a m & C o . , S p ec ta t o r Ar t Awa rd Ex hi b i t i o n’
Re d fe r n Ga l l e r y, Lon d o n, ‘ Wi nt er Ex hi b i ti o n’
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1994
C h r ist ie ’s , Lo ndo n, ‘ Pet er G reenha m M emo ri a l Ex hi b i t i o n’
1994 - 96
Roya l Ac a demy, Lo ndo n ‘ S u mmer Ex hi b i t i o n’
1994 - 98
Re d fe r n G a l l er y, Lo ndo n, ‘ S u mmer Ex hi b i t i o n’
1995
C h r ist ie ’s , Lo ndo n, ‘ N a t i o na l Tru st C entena r y Ex hi b i t i o n’
1996
Ma l l Ga l leri es , Lo ndo n, ‘ D i s c erni ng Eye’
1997
Ma l l Ga l leri es , Lo ndo n, ‘ D i s c erni ng Eye’
Re d fe r n G a l l er y, Lo ndo n, ‘ S ti l l Li fe a nd I nt eri o rs ’
1998- 99
Roya l Ac a demy, Lo ndo n, ‘ S u mmer Ex hi b i t i o n’
2000
Ma l l Ga l leri es , Lo ndo n, ‘ D i s c erni ng Eye’
Ga l e r ie Vi ei l l e du Temp l e, Pa ri s
2 0 0 1
Roya l Ac a demy, Lo ndo n, ‘ S u mmer Ex hi b i t i o n’
2002
A r t Pa l m B ea c h (w i th Redfern G a l l er y)
Roya l Ac a demy, Lo ndo n, ‘ S u mmer Ex hi b i t i o n’
2 0 05 - 0 6
Roya l Ac a demy, Lo ndo n, ‘ S u mmer Ex hi b i t i o n’
2 0 0 8-10
Roya l Ac a demy, Lo ndo n, ‘ S u mmer Ex hi b i t i o n’
2 0 0 9
Re d fe r n G a l l er y, Lo ndo n, ‘Au tu mn Ex hi b i t i o n’
2 0 10
Ma l l Ga l leri es , Lo ndo n, ‘ S u nday Ti mes Wa terc o l o u r C o mp et i t i o n’
2 0 11
Ma l l Ga l leri es , Lo ndo n, ‘ D i s c erni ng Eye’
2 0 12
Roya l Ac a demy, Lo ndo n, ‘ S u mmer Ex hi b i t i o n’
Ma l l Ga l leri es , Lo ndo n, ‘ S u nday Ti mes Wa terc o l o u r C o mp et i t i o n’
2 0 13
Roya l Ac a demy, Lo ndo n, ‘ S u mmer Ex hi b i t i o n’
Ma l l Ga l leri es , Lo ndo n, ‘ S u nday Ti mes Wa terc o l o u r C o mp et i t i o n’
2 0 15
B e lgrave G a l l er y, S t I ves ‘ 4 0 Yea rs o f Pa i nt i ng : C a mb er wel l S t u d e n t s a nd Tea c hers 1 9 4 5 t o 1 9 8 5 ’
2 0 16
Roya l Ac a demy, Lo ndo n, ‘ S u mmer Ex hi b i t i o n’
C h r ist ie ’s , N ew Yo rk , ‘ D raw i ngs f ro m the Roya l D raw i ng S c ho o l ’
2 0 17
2 0 /2 0 Gal l er y, Lu dl ow, ‘ S a ra h Armstro ng -J o nes & Ak i ko H i ra i ’
2 0 17 -19
Roya l Ac a demy, Lo ndo n, ‘ S u mmer Ex hi b i t i o n’
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With grateful thanks to William Feaver Daniel, Sam and Arthur Laura McRitchie and Paul Bower Catalogue © The Redfern Gallery, 2019 Works: © Sarah Armstrong-Jones Introduction: © William Feaver Photography: Alex Fox Design: Graham Rees Design Print: The Five Castles Press Published to coincide with the Exhibition
SARAH ARMSTRONG-JONES PATHWAYS
4 December 2019 – 10 January 2020 Published by The Redfern Gallery, London 2019 ISBN: 978-0-948460-80-7 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying recording or any other information storage or retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the gallery.
inside front cover
Studio Morning 2019 Pe n a n d i n k on paper 5 8 × 76 cm (d e t ail ) opposite
Lo w l a n d , O a k 2 0 1 9 Pe n a n d i n k on paper 2 1.5 × 15 cm
20 Cork Street, London W1S 3H L +4 4 (0)20 7 734 1732 redfern-gallery.com
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