Art on a Postcard x War Child UK 2024 Part II

About
Experiences of womanhood sit at the heart of Lydia Merrett’s practice, which incorporates painting, drawing and printmaking. Her large-scale canvases celebrate women’s emotional, physical and psychological capabilities, whether they are captured running, practising a headstand or preparing for the act of painting. Taking the female figure as her primary subject matter, Merrett employs a bold palette and a dynamic approach to her materials to convey the inner lives of her characters, explaining ‘colour, scale and gesture are essential to describe feelings of celebration, discomfort, pain and pleasure, universal experiences felt by us all.’ Connecting these themes to her own processes of creation and resilience as an artist, she continues, ‘the paintings are a joyful expression of overcoming adversity and relishing in the thrill of painting.

Education
MFA Fine Art Painting - Slade School of Fine Art, University College London (Distinction) 2021-2023

B.A (Hons.) Fine Art Goldsmiths, University of London 2013-2016

Foundation Diploma in Art and Design - Manchester Metropolitan University 2012-2013

Select Exhibitions/Awards
Awards
Almacantar Studio Prize 2023
Terrance Cuneo Memorial Prize 2023

Solo Shows
Changing States , LKIF Gallery, Seoul, 2024
Afterglow , Unit London (online), 2024

Selected Exhibitions
MA/MFA Degree Show, Slade School of Fine Art, London, 2023
Slide A Glance, ASC Gallery, London, 2023
MA/MFA Interim Show, Slade School of Fine Art, London, 2022
Open Call, Liliya Gallery, London, 2022
Synthesis, The Tub, London, 2022
Domenica Marland, Pimlico, London, 2022
ERA, St Pancras Crypt, London, 2022
Purslane Art (online), 2021
Small Pleasures, All Mouth Gallery, London, 2021
Domenica Marland, Wiltshire, 2021
Degree Show, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, 2016
Feral, House of Vans, London, 2016
Slippers 2, Maverick Spaces, London, 2015
Slippers, Hoxton Basement, London, 2014
Degree Show, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, 2013

Statement about AOAP Submitted Artwork
Lydia Merrett uses the motif of a diver to explore ideas around skill, practice and perseverance. The first diving painting was shown as part of the artists MFA Painting degree show at the Slade School of Art. This oil on paper painting has been made especially for Art on a Postcard and continues the exploration of this theme.


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