Studio Viewing Room


Newsletter , Autumn 2021

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Buses do seem to all come at once!

Several projects and events arrive in one week this Autumn. It is a year since my last newsletter from the Studio Viewing Room, an attempt to connect more directly that began in early lockdown. You can follow the links to each individually below & return here if lost.

This Autumn sees the fruition of a long delayed real world project curating an exhibition for The Model of fellow painter and long time friend Patrick Hall (b.1935) – Beginnings pulls threads from his earliest work in London in the 1950’s through current work in his rural Co Sligo studio, offering an encounter with the 'beginners mind' lying at the heart of his work and life. I have spent each Sunday since the first lockdown with Patrick in his Garden, house and studio. Initially planning this exhibition & keeping company in difficult times, then evolving into the new possibilities of a working dynamic together in his studio workspace – something that rarely occurs in an individual painter’s life. For me it presented a sustained opportunity to deepen my engagement with portraiture during this weekly encounter as he painted, absorbed in new Working Drawings.

Beginnings | Patrick Hall is open from 23rd October extended until to 30th January 2022 with a conversation between us both in the gallery at 2pm on Saturday 6th November (view film online). One of the many resulting portraits of Patrick Hall will also be on show at The National Gallery of Ireland, from 13th November as part of the shortlist for the Zurich Portrait Prize. On Thursday November 4th at 5.30pm I am giving an online presentation for the RHA The Sitting book series which looks at how contemporary artists have used human subjects, social groups and relationships in the formation of their practice. From Friday November 5th at The Ballinglen Museum of Art, in an exhibition curated by Anne Mullee, I am showing my first ever large scale Truckscape painting made in the mobile studio in 1998. It has never been exhibited, and has been wrapped & in the studio for 23 years. The subject is the wondrous cliffs at Benwee Head in Co Mayo.

And finally opening on December 3rd at Art Space Gallery, London is Step and Stair a show curated by Dr Jon Wood and Michael Richardson to celebrate 35 years of the gallery (I first showed there in 1998). Delighted to be showing with one of my painter heroes, the late Leon Kossoff and others such as Basil Beattie and Deanna Petherbridge.

Nick

Beginnings | Patrick Hall


Curated by Nick Miller at The Model
23rd October - extended to 30th January 2022

To mark the occasion of his exhibition, Beginnings, at The Model, we are delighted to present this very special gallery conversation between Patrick Hall and fellow artist Nick Miller. Beginnings, which is curated by Miller, brings together works from the past and present of Hall’s long artistic career, from his emergence as an artist in London in the 1950s, to works made in the present day at his studio in rural Sligo. The title of the show nods to the defining courageous nature at the heart of all of Hall’s work, and the way in which he approaches the act of drawing and painting with a beginner’s mind.

Patrick Hall in conversation with Nick Miller
Sat 6th November @ 2pm, The Model,
The filmed conversation can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfDzFlpw4qg

or via The Model
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  •  Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

    Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

  •  Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

    Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

  •  Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

    Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

  •  Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

    Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

  •  Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

    Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

  •  Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

    Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

  •  Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

    Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

  •  Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

    Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

  •  Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

    Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

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Beginnings | Patrick Hall : Resources


Publication with text by Nick Miller
PDF is
available: HERE
or Online at The Model

FILM :
Patrick Hall in conversation with Nick Miller VIEW HERE

View installation images: HERE
Images above:
1. Patrick Hall. El Limonar, Malaga, Spain 1972 Photo
2. (hover)
Dancing on the dead, Ink & acrylic on paper, 2012, 32 x 34 cm

Images left:
1.
Working Drawing 9. Patrick Hall, 2021, Acrylic & watercolour on paper, 25 x 25 cm
2. (hover)
Patrick Hall, – Sundays painting. Co Sligo, studio, 2021. Nick Miller & Patrick Hall

Zurich Portrait Prize

National Gallery of Ireland
Patrick Hall has sat for me regularly since 1993, becoming part of our long painters friendship. Now, at 86, he is largely confined to his house and studio in rural Co Sligo. The last nearly two years of lockdowns offered a paradoxical silver lining of freedom, conversation, connection and potential for work during Sunday visits while delivering shopping have allowed a sustained weekly engagement with portraiture. In this work. Hall is in the studio, painting ambidextrously – in his own very particular world.

Right: Studies of Patrick Hall – painting 2020-21, Studio wall.

Below:
Portrait of Patrick Hall – painting
Nick Miller | 2021 | Oil pastel / paint on linen | 102 x 92 cm


Zurich Portrait Prize | National Gallery of Ireland
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  •  Nick Miller & Patrick Hall - Sundays painting. Co Sligo, studio, 2021.

    Nick Miller & Patrick Hall - Sundays painting. Co Sligo, studio, 2021.

  •  Portrait of Patrick Hall – painting
Nick Miller | 2021 | Oil pastel and paint on linen | 102 x 92 cm

    Portrait of Patrick Hall – painting Nick Miller | 2021 | Oil pastel and paint on linen | 102 x 92 cm

  •  Studio views: Painting Patrick Hall 20220-2021

    Studio views: Painting Patrick Hall 20220-2021

  •  Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

    Beginnings | Patrick Hall – installation view at The Model

  •  Studio views: Painting Patrick Hall 20220-2021

    Studio views: Painting Patrick Hall 20220-2021

  •  Studio views: Painting Patrick Hall 20220-2021

    Studio views: Painting Patrick Hall 20220-2021

  •  Studio views: Painting Patrick Hall 20220-2021

    Studio views: Painting Patrick Hall 20220-2021

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Portrait of Patrick Hall – painting



Zurich Portrait Prize
National Gallery of Ireland

13 November 2021 - 3rd April 2022
Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
23 April and 17 July 2022

Click images or HERE
for Selected
studio views & work in progress

Other forthcoming shows and events

the way that we went


Ballinglen Museum of Art
Ballycastle, Co Mayo
5th November  – 18th December 2021

In an exhibition curated by
Anne Mullee for the Ballinglen Arts Foundation.

Showing this never before exhibited painting:
Benwee Head (1998), Oil on linen , 183 x 183cm .

Coming out for a first ever showing after 23 years in studio storage, I am delighted this painting will be seen in Co Mayo, where it was made on site in 1998 - the first large scale
TRUCKSCAPE I ever made, as a novice 4 tonne truck driver reversing ever closer to the cliff edge. A painting that holds all the thrill of adventure & discovery –  of being able to paint on site, in nature at scale but protected from the elements.

Details & Press Release | Selected Images
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  •  Benwee Head, 1998. OIl on linen, 183 x 183 cm | on show Ballinglen Museum of Art

    Benwee Head, 1998. OIl on linen, 183 x 183 cm | on show Ballinglen Museum of Art

  •  Benwee Head, 1998. OIl on linen, 183 x 183 cm | unexhibited Truckscape coming out from 23 years in studio storage.

    Benwee Head, 1998. OIl on linen, 183 x 183 cm | unexhibited Truckscape coming out from 23 years in studio storage.

  •  the way that we went | 5th Nov-18th Dec |Ballinglen Museum of Art

    the way that we went | 5th Nov-18th Dec |Ballinglen Museum of Art

  •  Invite: the way that we went | 5th Nov-18th Dec |Ballinglen Museum of Art

    Invite: the way that we went | 5th Nov-18th Dec |Ballinglen Museum of Art

  •  Mobile Studio (2004) Photo:  the way that we went | 5th Nov-18th Dec |Ballinglen Museum of Art

    Mobile Studio (2004) Photo: the way that we went | 5th Nov-18th Dec |Ballinglen Museum of Art

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the way that we went



Ballinglen Museum of Arts
The Ballinglen Arts Foundation
Main Street, Ballycastle, Co Mayo.

Benwee Head, 1998. . Oil on linen, 183 x 183 cm

Studio & work
IMAGES

Artists Include:
Cecilia Dannell, Comhghall Casey, Donald Teskey,
Éanna Byrt, Eithne Jordan, Geraldine O’Reilly,
Kathy Tynan , Kaye Maahs, Martin Gale,
Matthew Mitchell, Mollie Douthit, Nick Miller
Nuala Clarke, Patrick Harris, Peter Burns,
Selma Makela, Will O’Kane

RHA Talk Series


The Sitting Book
On Thursday November 4th at 5.30pm I am giving a presentation as part of the RHA The Sitting book series of public talks. The title is based on a series of pocket notebooks held in the RA Archive by Joshua Reynolds. These recorded in detail his sitters, social circles and relationships that fed into the formation of his work.

The talks series looks at how contemporary artists have used human subjects, social groups and relationships in the formation of their practice. FREE

Info & booking

Image: The absent Mind (Detail) , Nick Miller, 1984-2011 Multi media installation, RHA Dublin, 2011
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The Window Seat


10th Anniversary exhibition
Laois Art House
13th November 2021 and running to 25th February 2022.

In Response to a poem "The Window Seat" by an old friend form my Dublin days, the Laois poet,
Pat Boran. An Exhibition, publication, symposium and tour celebrating 10 years of Laois Art House and a creative space. Curated by Monica Flynn.

image: Blank canvas to the blaze (PH painting, study 2021)
Nick Miller. Oil pastel on paper, mounted on linen, 30 x 30 cm
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Step and Stair

Art Space Gallery
84 St Peter's Street, London, N1 8JS
3rd December - 20th Jan 2022


Exhibition curated by Michael Richardson and Dr Jon Wood to celebrate 35 years of the gallery

Showing two new paintings from a series called
Gatherings


Details & Press Release
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Click images to view more

  •  Gathering II, Nick Miller, 2021, Oil on Linen, 60 x 50 cm

    Gathering II, Nick Miller, 2021, Oil on Linen, 60 x 50 cm

  •  Gathering I, Nick Miller, 2021, Oil on Linen, 60 x 50 cm

    Gathering I, Nick Miller, 2021, Oil on Linen, 60 x 50 cm

  •  Studio View | Galtherings II 2021

    Studio View | Galtherings II 2021

  •  Studio View | Galtherings II 2021

    Studio View | Galtherings II 2021

  •  Step and Stair | Art Space Gallery | Press Release

    Step and Stair | Art Space Gallery | Press Release

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Step and Stair | Works



Images above:
Gathering II,
Nick Miller, 2021, Oil on Linen, 60 x 50 cm
Gathering I, Nick Miller, 2021, Oil on Linen, 60 x 50 cm
Left:
Invitation and studio view (hover)

Studio & work view: IMAGES

Artists include:
Ivor Abrahams, Nick Andrews, Garry Barker, Basil Beattie, John Davies, Arturo di Stefano, Howard Eaglestone, Anthony Eyton, Peter Freeth, Anthony Green, Janis Hardiman, Charles Hewlings, Phill Hopkins, Derek Hyatt, Leon Kossoff, Nick Miller, Deanna Petherbridge, Carl Plackman, Peter Suchin and Michael Sandel.

Enquires / information

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