This is an archive of the Summer 2021 open house festival. View all

Graham Read – A Retrospective

Online only

Paintings, sketchbooks and works on paper, carefully curated from an artist who practised throughout his lifetime yet rarely offered the results to be shared to a wider public.

The ’12’ referred to on the invitation to view this work refers to the 12 pieces shown, and not to any previous retrospectives!

Archived open house

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07986 649 567
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This is a large and mysterious figurative painting, inhabited by three figures - one of which is wearing a mask and is rushing in holding what might be a bomb or device. Surreal in feel and beautifully observed.

Untiltled, Oil on Canvas
Graham Ruskin Read

Figure facing forward, dressed in a suit, bowtie and black thick rimmed glasses.

Portrait, II (Subject Unknown)
Graham Read
Acrylic on Paper, 21 x 30cm
Not for Sale

Two figures selected from what seems to be a crowd of people, chatting idly whilst one rests on an armchair

Untitled, I Sketchbook page
Graham Read
Acrylic, Pastel and Charcoal on Paper, 21 x 30cm
Not for Sale

Figure facing the camera side on, dressed in a suit, bowtie and black thick rimmed glasses.

Portrait, I (Subject Unknown)
Graham Read
Acrylic on Paper, 21 x 30cm
Not for Sale

A man dressed in a suit sits upon a luxury sofa. Behind him appears to be a painting or poster to be a painting on the wall, with a jockey(?) approaching next to it.

Seated Figure
Graham Read
Charcoal on Paper, 20 x 21.5cm
Not for Sale

A Papal figure, possibly Pope John Paul I, hands folded and outstretched to his side against an inky black background.

Pope
Graham Read
Charcoal on Paper, 29.5 x 42cm
Not for Sale

A charcoal drawing of three figures in an interior. A figure at the rear of the image, wearing a suit and tie, calmly observes a running man who is crossing the foreground of the work, from left to right, while another, smaller figure appears outside the frame and is looking away from the principle figures. Strong lines and tone give the drawing a sense of theatre.

Watching
Graham Read
Charcoal and on paper, 60 x 69cm
Not for Sale

A still life, painted from direct observation, of an arresting Halloween mask, or mask of a deity, in deep red occupying the right hand foreground of the composition. In the background, and almost filling the space is a blue shirt, on a hanger, against a black background.

Still Life with Halloween Mask
Graham Read
Acrylic on Paper, 56 x 38cm
Not for Sale

A black and well worn leather jacket is shown draped over a black box with a scarf of deep red cascades out of one of the pockets. There is a presence and weight to the objects - the red of the scarf contrasting against the blacks and greys of the other objects.

Still Life with Red Scarf
Graham Read
Acrylic on Paper, 56 x 78cm
Not For Sale

A red carrier bag containing a heavy object is suspended, by it's handles, between two black boxes; in front of one of them is a green carrier bag, shown gaping open to reveal a piece of workshop equipment in bright blue.

Still Life with Red and Green Bags.
Graham Read
Acrylic on Paper, 76 x 56cm
Not for Sale

One of many paintings that deal with the theme of 'Momento Mori' which the artist addressed in a number of works. Here we have the skull of a a sheep in the foreground on a red plinth, while the upper part of a figure is seated behind with her head resting in reverie on her arms. A piece of rock, pockmarked from the sea, is suspended to the left of the painting. The colour is rich with a strong tonal range.

Memento Mori: Longing
Graham Read
Oil on Canvas, 126 x 111 cm
Not For Sale

Interior with figure (The Laughing Man) A man dressed casually with his arms supporting his head, stands to the right of the painting against a background of two arches, some shapes like stones and smoke in the distance. In the left hand corner of the painting appears the face and shoulders of a 'laughing man' from which the work gets it's title.

Interior with figure (The Laughing Man)
Graham Read
Charcoal and Soft Pastel on Paper, 127 x 127cm [Framed 'edge to edge']
Not for Sale

Three figures in garden - an adult and two children on a summer's day, painted in a rich loose style using strong colour and drawing with paint.

Untitled painting
Graham Read
Acrylic on Paper, 42 x 30cm
Not for Sale

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May 29, 30, 31 June 5&6 | 12&13 | 19&20 | 26&27

Graham Read – A Retrospective

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