Gramercy Park Studios in Soho host Zavier Ellis’ highly anticipated solo exhibition ‘Revolt Repeat’ in partnership ArtIn Agency and CHARLIE SMITH LONDON.
With a unique perspective on contemporary history painting, Ellis’ practice involves deep research into specific subjects, focusing especially on revolution, resistance and conflict. In this exhibition, he explores the French Revolution, Spanish Civil War, Civil Rights, fall of the Berlin Wall and origins of monotheism. Ellis is interested in the complexity of history and the tendency for events, methods and motivations to repeat themselves with different iterations. He draws on the past to inform the present and warn against the future.
The use of text is fundamental to Ellis’ approach. Whilst adopting rhetorical and propaganda techniques, especially focusing on repetition, he deploys language according to its historical or political usage. Always fragmented, Ellis embraces the broken, derelict, incomplete and mistaken to invite new meanings and interpretations.
Combining this use of text with painterly, collage, assemblage and photographic techniques, Ellis references street signs, historical graffiti, worn posters and the weathered surfaces that form the language of city streets. Recently, Ellis’ work has returned to its source during a project with Flying Leaps. Two works referencing the UK election and Israel’s invasion of Gaza have been printed as posters and fly-posted throughout the UK including London, Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Sheffield, Glasgow and Edinburgh. These works will feature in the exhibition as Giclée editions.
Zavier Ellis read History of Modern Art at Manchester University (1993-1996) before undertaking a Masters in Fine Art at City and Guilds of London Art School (2003-2005). Zavier has exhibited alongside contemporary and 20th century artists including Peter Blake, Michael Craig-Martin, Marcus Harvey, Damien Hirst, Julian Opie, Pablo Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Derek Ridgers, Antoni Tàpies, Mark Titchner, Gavin Turk, Keith Tyson and Mark Wallinger. He has exhibited globally including Museum der Moderne, Salzburg; Pera Museum, Istanbul; Torrance Art Museum, Los Angeles; Saatchi Gallery, London; Klaipėda Culture Communication Centre, Klaipėda; Royal West Academy, Bristol; Dean Clough, Halifax; Paul Stolper, London; Galerie Heike Strelow, Frankfurt; Raid Projects, Los Angeles; and ENIA Gallery, Pireas. His work is featured in prominent private collections including the seminal Sammlung Annette und Peter Nobel, Zurich and Beth Rudin DeWoody, West Palm Beach.
The event will take place at Gramercy Park Studios, 25 Great Pulteney Street, Soho, London W1F 9ND. Available to view Monday-Friday 10am-5pm. For further information please contact direct@charliesmithlondon.com. Follow @CHARLIESMITHIdn
Please contact CHARLIE SMITH LONDON for artwork list
URLs:
Instagram: https://go.evvnt.com/2537845-2?pid=2093
Exhibitor: https://go.evvnt.com/2537845-3?pid=2093
Artist: Zavier Ellis