Gwen John And Celia Paul: Painters In Parallel

Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, West Sussex is pleased to present the work of two of Britain’s most distinctive and respected female artists, Gwen John (1876 –1939) and Celia Paul (b.1959), placed side-by-side for the first time. The exhibition includes key examples of paintings and drawings by both artists, offering a unique insight into the common experiences and themes which bridge almost eight decades of history.

Though separated by over 80 years, the lives and work of Gwen John and Celia Paul share many fascinating parallels. Both were students at the Slade School of Art and models and muses to internationally famous male artists, and each have expressed a strongly personal vision that reflects their identity as a woman artist. Their work is characterised by an intimacy of approach, with subjects such as portraits of other women, light-filled interior spaces and moments of quietude depicted with an extraordinary intensity.

Gwen John and Celia Paul: Painters in Parallel (6 Oct 2012-27 Jan 2013)coincides with an exhibition of Celia Paul’s ‘Separation’ series at Chichester Cathedral in the autumn 2012.