Attention Brighton! A5 Open Art Exhibition open until April and worth a visit

The inaugural Brighton A5 Open Art Exhibition (until 6 April 2012), went off to a flying start at the private view  on Sunday 27 November when one lucky first prize winner and four runners up were announced. The exhibition which takes place at the Outside In Community Gallery in Brighton, is now open for visitors to come and see the winning works as well as the other 180 entries from the competition, which was organised by Pallant House Gallery and Outside In earlier this year.


The prize of their own solo exhibition at the Outside In Gallery went to Ian Pyper, for his original, eye-catching work entitled ‘Hairy Monoped (Sciapod)’.  Speaking of his work Ian said ‘I was inspired to draw the image as I'd drawn identical versions of this as a child at every opportunity I could. I have no idea where the image came from, but it somehow came to represent me and my 'identity'. I scribbled it on books and pieces of paper for quite some time afterwards.’ Ian has recently started to draw on found paperback book pages, the ideal size for the A5 competition requirement! When asked about this unconventional mode of working, he said ‘book pages lack the intimidating 'blank white surface' that ordinary drawing paper does.’

Ian Pyper 'Hairy Monped (Sciapod)'

The four lucky runners up were awarded a community pass which includes free entry to Pallant House Gallery for a year and a year’s subscription to the gallery magazine. Judges were impressed by Paul Bellingham’s moving portraits ‘Head Study’ and ‘Face Study’ and by Michelle Brown’s colourful and playful drawings of animals entitled ‘Like’ and ‘Understood’.  Runner up was also awarded to Shirley Hart for her work ‘Vicar’ and Millie Popovic for her landscape painting ‘Viewpoint’.

Michelle Brown 'Like'

Michelle Brown 'Understood'

Every artist who entered the competition is a winner, with all work featuring in the exhibition. The interesting entry requirement of A5 sized work meant that a larger amount of work could go on display, which is an important factor for the Outside In Community Gallery which aims to bring work from the local community together, providing a link to the local area in which it is based. The A5 requirement particularly suited Ian Pyper who said; ‘I very rarely work on drawings much larger than A5 and in many ways it's the particular 'psychological format' for creating my art.’

Ian is already looking forward to his solo exhibition. He said ‘I've never had a big solo exhibition before, so this will be a very exciting and new experience.’ In the meantime, visitors can come and see Ian’s work as well as the huge variety of other works by exciting local artists until 6 April 2012. 

*Entry to the Outside In Community Gallery is free to the public. The gallery is open Tuesdays and Fridays, 1.30 until 3.30, with viewings also by appointment. To arrange a visit please call Outside In on 07735 68531 or Wellington House Day Centre on 01273 296240