The ninth edition of the Art on a Postcard winter auction launches via Dreweatts auction house this week, with a private view hosted by London contemporary art gallery Gathering on 21 November. This year’s extraordinary collection boasts a remarkable line-up of 595 works curated by six distinguished guest curators and aims to raise funds for The Hepatitis C Trust’s vital unfunded helpline, a vital resource for the many thousands of people who received infected blood or blood products.
The stellar roster of featured artists includes London-based including London-based artist Rana Begum, Thomas Dane Gallery’s Hurvin Anderson RA, world-renowned textile designer Kaffe Fassett MBE, Stephen Friedman Gallery’s Anne Rothenstein, celebrated Scottish painter Andrew Cranston, LA contemporary artist Kim Dingle, Glasgow-born Jack Milroy, rising star Matthew Eguavoen, based in Lagos, Nigeria, New Contemporary Tom Harker, popular abstract artist John Simpson, Sheffield based Ryan Mosely, NYC based artist, famed for his instantly recognisable drawings, doodles, characters and murals Jon Burgerman, Dutch artist Bobbye Fermie, and the Chilean Marco Bizzarri headlining this year’s show.
The guest curators themselves are luminaries in the art world. Including innovator Frankie Shea of Moniker Projects, known for founding, funding, and producing the first annual art fair rooted in urban culture, street art, and graffiti. For AOAP, Frankie has curated an impressive selection of artists championing Bristol’s graffiti heritage such as Nick Walker, Sickboy, and Hugo Farmer, interdisciplinary artists Faith47 and Fa Razavi, and the prolific and notorious writers TOX and 10FOOT.
Next up is Ell Pennick director of Gut’s Gallery and considered one of the youngest gallerists navigating today’s art world. Frustrated with the lack of opportunities for Ell’s generation, especially within the working classes, Gut’s Gallery employs an equitable business model to empower the next generation of artists. Ell has introduced exciting emerging talents such as Sophie Vallance Cantor, Olivia Sterling, Georg Wilson, and Iranian British artist Leila Tara H.
Ed Cross, the gallerist with a 13-year history of championing African and African diaspora artists, presents works by Reuben Powell, Russian artist Vladimir Logutov, and sculptor and installation artist Abdulrazaq Awofeso. Gillian Jason Gallery director Millie Foster collaborates with female-identifying artists, continuing the legacy started by her grandmother of exhibiting work by pioneering artists. Millie’s roster includes the brilliant painter Christabel Blackburn, multidisciplinary artist Precious Opara, and recent RCA graduate Bethany Hadfield.
Katherine Kittoe of Kittoe Contemporary showcases artwork in a novel way by placing them in houses and hosting ‘art parties’. Katherine’s roster includes illustrator Charlotte Farmer, cartoonist Joe Berger, and still life painter Jason Line. Finally, comedian and art critic Verity Babbs’s selection includes RCA graduate Cecilia Reeve, Portuguese-born Chica Seal, and abstract expressionist Taya De La Cruz.
Art on a Postcard’s own selection highlights include returning contributing artist Helen Beard, a firm AOAP favourite, the wonderful Sussex painter Peter Messer, Japanese artist Motonori Uwasu, whose unique painting style will surely be a massive hit and Nigerian artist Matthew Eguavoen Imuetiyan, whose submissions will be snapped up before you can say charity auction.
“This year’s auction is the most diverse and interesting we have produced. The curators have each brought their own unique perspective, all coming from very different backgrounds. The result is easily the best show we’ve ever put on. Hosting the private view at Gathering is the crowning stroke.” – Gemma Peppé, Founder and Director of Art on a Postcard
Bidding starts at just £50 and will open online via Dreawetts Auction House on 9 November 2023. This is an extraordinary opportunity to acquire exceptional original works by highly collectible artists while supporting a crucial cause. The Hepatitis C Trust was founded in 2001 at a time when no effective treatment for the illness was available and reliable information about the virus was inaccessible. Since then, the organisation has become the leading voice on the virus. Patient-led and patient-run; most of its board, staff and volunteers have had hepatitis C themselves. However, with no dedicated funding, their helpline is at risk of closure, leaving those vulnerable to the virus without a crucial support network. In line with the values of AOAP, all proceeds from November’s auction will go towards supporting the cause.
Art on a Postcard Winter Auction, 9-23 November
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