Expect long queues when Ink_d opens its latest exhibition – there aren’t many opportunities to snap up art by some of the city’s hottest talents for less than £100 a pop.
Bringing together 17 established and up-and-coming artists the fledgling gallery has represented in the two years since it opened, Made In Brighton is a celebration of the creativity on our doorsteps and includes paintings, prints, letterpress, drawings, collage, sculpture and lighting.
Each exhibitor was asked to supply 25 pieces, no bigger than 30cm x 30cm, and all, as the title suggests, “Made in Brighton”.
“Some people have taken the theme literally,” says gallery manager Jenny Ogilvie. “Maria Rivans, for example, has made 25 collage images based on the idea of old Brighton. Jim Saunders has made work out of Brighton band record sleeves and Andy Doig has used old fairground bulbs from the pier to make his pieces.”
The cost of each work has been set at £75 – not bad considering exhibitors such as Chris Kettle regularly sells his subversive still life paintings for thousands of pounds.
Visitors could pick up an original creation by James Cauty – better known as Rockman Rock from seminal acid house group The KLF, who famously burnt one million pounds in the name of art; a print by the endlessly entertaining Modern Toss boys, or illustrator Graham Carter’s witty take on Banksy’s famous “kissing coppers” mural which adorns the side of the Prince Albert pub in Trafalgar Street. Graffiti artist Hutch has submitted a series of stencils on plywood; Imbue presents a new Brighton and Hove sign and there is also work from the psychedelia-obsessed Pinky and newcomer Ben Allen.
“The idea of everything being the same price kind of ties the show together and offers a great chance for locals to get their hands on work by brilliant artists at a really low price,” Jenny says. “We’ve got artists who are well known nationally and newcomers – it’s a real mix. There will be about 500 pieces in total and, yes, we’re expecting lots of interest!”
In addition to Made In Brighton, the upstairs of the gallery has been turned over to the work of another city art stalwart, graffiti artist Req, whose designs decorate the back of Infinity Foods, the side of the Prince Albert and many a record sleeve.
His one-line figure paintings, developed in the 1990s, are reworked in this show, titled Apparitions, alongside work on the female nude. Req has also contributed to Made In Brighton.
Open Monday to Saturday, 10am-6pm, Sunday, noon-4pm, free. Call 01273 645299
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