Carey Mortimer
Fallen Angels, Vacant Thrones
Thackeray Gallery E
st
1968
Fallen Angels, Vacant Thrones Carey Mortimer we play in it. work. Carey’s ence, asking us
has always been attracted to the notion of history and the part This has never been more apparent than in this new group of use of symbolism poses questions of permanence and transito think more deeply about what is not there, as well as what is.
‘The meaning and interpretation of Carey’s work is intrinsically linked to the very materials she works on. And the very materials she works with. Faithfully committed to the ancient techniques of painting - egg tempera, fresco, gesso, and gold leaf - each work is rooted in the Italian Renaissance. These materials require patient, skillful preparation, exact quantities and mixing, a climatic working environment and perfect timing. Occasionally, a surface is chosen that carries stories from previous lives: an ancient wooden door from her hometown in Sardinia; a discarded sheet of metal found near the heron’s haunt; exquisitely patterned Delabole slate. Breathing new life into these objects with beautiful mark making and artistic vision, Carey works her alchemy. The results are contemporary, sensitive and elegant works of art that embody a spiritual, physical, and timeless quality.
Carey Mortimer 9 - 26 May 2017
Book of Angels I egg tempera on slate - 36 x 51cm
Book of Angels II egg tempera on slate - 52 x 49cm
Book of Angels III silver leaf, oil on metal sheet - 22 x 17cm
Continuance buon fresco, wax, gold leaf - 39 x 39cm
Dress I egg tempera, gold leaf on gessoed panel - 122 x 90cm
Dress II egg tempera on gessoed panel - 122 x 90cm
Dress III egg tempera on gessoed panel - 37 x 33cm
Epifania egg tempera, gold leaf on wooden panel - 25 x 23cm
Fallen Angel egg tempera on gessoed cloth - 58 x 58cm
Fallen Angels egg tempera on gessoed cloth - 32 x 26cm
Here we stand fresco stucco lucido - 49 x 61cm
Heron I oil on metal sheet - 100 x 85cm
Heron II egg tempera on wooden panel - 25 x 17cm
Heron III fresco stucco lucido - 40 x 31cm
Humility walnut ink on paper - 35 x 60cm
Last Supper II egg tempera on gessoed cloth - 52 x 52cm
Ode to Seppie seppia ink on gessoed cloth - 56 x 69cm
Salvia buon fresco - 137 x 123cm
Sardinian icon I gesso, gold leaf, egg tempera on wood panel 45 x 29cm
Sardinian icon II silver leaf, egg tempera on wood panel 45 x 29cm
Sardinian icon III egg tempera on wood panel 45 x 29cm
Throne I egg tempera on gessoed cloth - 68 x 92cm
Throne II egg tempera on gessoed cloth - 68 x 92cm
Throne III egg tempera on gessoed cloth - 33 x 27cm
Vanitas gold leaf, egg tempera on wooden panel - 47 x 47cm
BIOGRAPHY 1962 1981-82 1984-86 1989 1990-91
Born 1st year of Architecture BA Manchester University City and Guilds of London Art School, Decorative Arts “It Laboratorio per Affresco”, Prato, Italy - study of fresco Duncan Jordanstone College of Art; Master of Philosophy in Public Art & Design
COMMISSIONS: 1990 Murals in AIDS babies wards, Bucharest, Romania - Murals in orphanages, Transylvania, Romania 1991 Sculptures for South of River Show, Bristol 1992 Designs for external decoration of Saint Mary le Port, Bristol; commissioned by Castle Park Developments Corporation - Designs for Temple Jazz Club, Bristol - Installations for “Inhetma” exhibition, Bristol 1993 Three month expedition to Guyana, South America as an artist with Raleigh International 1994 Trip to India; experiences there inspired work for solo exhibition, Thackeray Gallery 1995 1995/6 Lived and worked in Dominica, West Indies 1996/7 Current work includes murals/frescos for hospitals 1998 Wall relief, Maternity Unit, Conquest Hospital, Hastings - Fresco of Children, Servite Primary School, Chelsea, London 2000 Wall sculpture, Sainsburys Commission, Newport, Isle of Wight - Wall relief, Maternity Unit, Conquest Hospital, Hastings 2001 Colle Verde Artists Residency, Italy, sponsored of Southern Arts - Art Residency for English Heritage, Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Bath 2002 Fresco bought by ‘Aviva’, London - River Yar Trail, ‘Source to the Mouth’ for Island 2000 Trust, Ryde, Isle of Wight 2003 Taught ‘Fresco Techniques’ at Quay Arts Summer School, Isle of Wight 2004 Taught ‘Ancient Techniques’ at Dedalo Arts, Tuscany, Italy 2004 Taught ‘Fresco Techniques’ at Quay Arts Summer School, Isle of Wight AWARDS
South West Arts Craft Award
EXHIBITIONS: 1988 The Direct Design and Contemporary Furniture Show, London 1989 Paper Works, Ruskin Craft Gallery, Sheffield 1991 Smiths Galleries, London 1993 Percy Thomas Partnership, Architects, Bristol 1994 Sue Rankin Gallery, London 1995, ‘96, ‘98 Thackeray Gallery, London 1999 Quay Art Centre. Isle of Wight 2000, ‘01, ‘02 Thackeray Gallery, London 2003, 04 Glyndebourne Gallery, Sussex 2004 - ‘17 Thackeray Gallery, London
Carey Mortimer studied Decorative Arts at City and Guilds of London Art School from 1984 to 1986. From this point on she was captivated by the techniques favoured by the artists of the Renaissance. Interspersed with global work and travels, teaching and public art work, she studied fresco painting under restorer Leonetto Tintori and achieved a Masters in Public Art and Design at Duncan of Jordanston College of Art, Dundee. For the last ten years she has worked from her studio in Sardinia. The techniques and materials that Carey uses are quintessential to her work. The paintings’ beginnings go far beyond the first brush strokes, with pigments being ground from collected rocks, coral and burnt vines, ink taken from local cuttlefish, an awareness of the origins of all the material aspects of the final piece. Carey is a contemporary British painter who uses these ancient techniques to convey her very modern concerns, transforming often bleak issues into a resolved and peaceful work, a moment of calm reflection. Carey has been exhibiting with the Thackeray Gallery since 1994 and her work can be found in many Public, Private and Corporate Collections worldwide, to include Aviva Headquarters, London, Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Firmdale Hotels, London and Jones Day, London and New York.