9 - 30 January 2017
THE FINE ART SOCIETY 148 new bond street · london w1s 2jt 2 | SANDRA BLOW
+ 44 (0)20 7629 5116 · art@thefineartsociety.com www.thefineartsociety.com
the fine art society
INTRODUCTION The exhibition Abstract Expressionism at the Royal Academy of Arts demonstrated the powerful achievements of painters who were prepared to cast off figurative elements and to work on a large scale giving colour predominance. Sandra Blow belonged to the next generation and was one of the most significant British artists working in this manner. The perspective on abstraction she gained from Alberto Burri immediately after the Second World War in ltaly differed from that of her British contemporaries. Her move from London to Cornwall in 1994 inspired the strong but subtle use of colour she used in the large canvases in this exhibition.
4 | SANDRA BLOW
Sandra Blow in her Montagu Square studio c.1955
St lves and the sea proved to be the great inspiration in the last phase of her career and these grand statements suggest that her importance ยกs yet to be fully recognised. Her paintings command attention in their own right as they did when shown at the Summer Exhibition, in the company of others. John Mclean wrote that Sandra Blow was the most amazing colourist and that true colourists are rarer than we think. Also that she was the most original composer of a painting of her time. Roger Hilton called her an heroic painter, and the evidence of her paintings suggest that these verdicts from her fellow artists were accurate.
the fine art society
1. White on Brown Triband, 2005
2. Flange, 2005
Collage on canvas, 48 x 48 inches | 122 x 122 cm
Acrylic on canvas, 72 x 72 inches | 182.9 x 182.9 cm
6 | SANDRA BLOW
the fine art society
3. Laurentian Trail, 2004 Collage on canvas, 84 x 120 inches | 213.4 x 304.8 cm
8 | SANDRA BLOW
the fine art society
4. Swimmer, 1987
5. Breakwater, 1994
Acrylic on canvas, 108 x 144 inches | 275 x 365.7 cm
Acrylic and collage on canvas, 96 x 120 inches | 244 x 305 cm
10 | SANDRA BLOW
the fine art society
6. Helix, 1990 Acrylic on canvas, 102 x 144 inches | 259 x 365.7 cm
12 | SANDRA BLOW
the fine art society
7. Linear Trace, 2005
8. Clodgy, 1996
Acrylic and collage on canvas, 48 x 48 inches | 122 x 122 cm
Acrylic and collage on canvas, 96 x 96 inches | 244 x 244 cm
14 | SANDRA BLOW
the fine art society
9. Stripes, 1978 Collage on canvas, 84 x 120 inches | 213.4 x 304.8 cm
16 | SANDRA BLOW
the fine art society
10. Brown and Pink Variations, 2003
11. Span (Terrain), 2005
Acrylic and collage on canvas, 48 x 48 inches | 122 x 122 cm
Collage on canvas, 102 x 124 inches | 259 x 315 cm
18 | SANDRA BLOW
the fine art society
Published by The Fine Art Society for
SANDRA BLOW ELEVEN WORKS held at 148 New Bond Street, London from 9 - 30 January 2017
isbn 978-1-907052-73-6 Catalogue © The Fine Art Society Text © The authors 2016 · All rights reserved Designed by The Fine Art Society Printed in the UK by ArtQuarters Press
Photography cat. no. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, , 9, 11 by Justin Piperger Photography Photography cat. no. 4, 6, 10 courtesy of The Estate of Sandra Blow
Front cover: cat. 11 (detail)
T H E F I N E A RT S O C I E T Y 148 new bond street · london w1s 2jt + 44 (0)20 7629 5116 · art@thefineartsociety.com www.thefineartsociety.com
20 | SANDRA BLOW
the fine art society