Small Pleasures

“The drawing is based off a Jack of Hearts playing card I found in a record sleeve dating back to the 60’s.”- James Owens, 2021

James Owens’ work depicts imagined folk-like scenes, largely inspired by his upbringing spent between the countryside and a Yorkshire fisherman’s village. His work gathers past, present and imagined scenes to form new narratives, blurring the boundaries between memory and contemplation. The works offer moments of liminality which draw from external visual references such as Robert Eggers’ film The Lighthouse. Nature and its mysteries also come to play, revealed through sunflowers which sway sinisterly and knowing eyes which seem to have it all sussed out. Meanwhile, curling blades of grass peer curiously across the canvas, weighed down by water droplets, drooping as though upset. Similarly, the domestic scene has a life of its own, unexplained shadows, crawling leeches and silhouettes roam through the canvas. Though inherently figurative, it isn’t hard to feel like nature has the upper hand in Owens’ works.

Accolades

Education: BA Illustration, Camberwell College of Arts (UAL), 2016 - 2018. BA Illustration and Visual Media, 2015 - 2016. London College of Communication (UAL). Foundation Diploma in Art and Design London College of Communication (UAL), 2014 - 2015

Selected exhibitions and awards: What I See I Will Never Tell, Wilder Gallery, London, 2021. Safe As Milk, Arusha Gallery, Edinburgh, 2021.’07’, PM/AM Gallery, online exhibition, 2021. When Shit Hits the Fan Again, Guts Gallery, virtual exhibition via Instagram, 2020. Curated for Christmas, All Mouth & Bowes Parris Gallery, London, 2020. Delphian Open Call 2020, virtual exhibition, 2020. Cellar Door, APT Gallery, London [postponed], 2020. Tender Kith, 155a Gallery, London, 2020. Hung Up, All Mouth Gallery, The Hackney Tub, London, 2020. In Response, The Viewing Room Gallery, Blue Shop Cottage, London, 2020. Anti Freeze, The Viewing Room Gallery, virtual exhibition, Curated for Covid, online exhibition, 2020. When Shit Hits the Fan, Guts Gallery, virtual exhibition via Instagram, 2020. Winter Fair, 155a Gallery, London, 2019. Pop-up Exhibition, Partnership Editions, Islington Square, London, 2019.