Category: Uncategorized

Painting of the Month, September 2015

Lytton Strachey Coming Through The Window

The idea behind the painting was based on Hitler’s Black Book – a list of some of the most influential British, who were to be arrested at the completion of a successful invasion of the country.

The figure is of Lytton Strachey, who has figured in several paintings by Steven, and often is painted as a quasi self portrait. On this occasion the figure of Strachey is morphing into Hitler. The black book itself had several notable mistakes, Strachey having died in 1932 for example.

The Steven Campbell Trust are delighted to be supporting the forthcoming exhibition ‘On Fun and Friction’.

Coordinated and curated by artist Rosie Roberts, On Fun and Friction is an exhibition celebrating 25 years since Steven Campbell’s seminal exhibition at the Third Eye Centre “On Form and Friction’ recently re-hung for Generation in 2014.

On Fun and Friction is an exhibition that celebrates and empowers those working in a painterly form or who feel a strong relationship to a painting/non painting contemporary art discourse. The show will bring together new painted works set against an audio and sculptural background, which embraces and questions a time when there are tangible struggles between different forms of contemporary practitioners, theoretically and practically and the importance or problems with empowering each individuals approach.

The title “On Fun and Friction” is a clear reference to Steven Campbell’s original exhibit. The exhibition is not intended as an attack but rather an invitation for discussion to highlight the literal sometimes-humorous friction that can often be felt between painters and other practitioners.

Artist’s featured: Caitlin Hynes, Owen Piper, Rachel Jones, Jacob Kerray, Fiona Beveridge, Alexander Millar, Rosie Roberts, Brian Cheeswright, Alexandra Leach.

The Steven Campbell Trust will also be loaning an original work by Steven Campbell.

Preview: Saturday 15th August 6-9pm
Open: 15.08.15 – 29.08.15 : 12noon – 6pm
SWG3 100 Eastvale Place Glasgow
Further viewings arranged by appointment.

Supported by The Steven Campbell Trust and The Hope Scott Trust.

Contact :

on.fun.and.friction.exhibition@gmail.com

Rosie Roberts – r.robertstudio@gmail.com

The Hope Scott Trust – http://www.hopescotttrust.co.uk/

Painting of the Month, August 2015

Blue Psycho Rug

This is from a series of paintings all based around the film Psycho. Steven actually did a painting called ‘There is no rug in Psycho’ or ‘physco’ (watch out for his misspelling on some of these paintings and drawings).

There was indeed no bathroom rug in the Hitchcock film but Steven imagined that if there had been they might have shown some kind of residual stain of the murders they had witnessed.

This particular rug is a reference to the James Elroy novel ‘The Black Dahlia’, the famous LA noire case in the 1940’s.

Painting of the Month, July 2015

Poised Murder

This particular work is from a series of paintings based around an idea from one of Steven’s earliest performance pieces called ‘Poised Murder’, which was loosely based on the life of Violette Noziere the famous French murderess and darling of the Surrealist movement.

It is an updated version to reflect Steven’s wide ranging interests such as Film Noire, Polanski, detective fiction, and the landscape and light of the South of France.

The central figure is a quasi self portrait (not done in a self portrait realistic manner but more of a nod to Hitchcock who always figured in his own films).
The paisley pattern background followed on from his painting of Waiting – Paisleycus Byrnicus Virus Invading Mr Gray. The figure behind the chair is a new creation called Babette Noziere imagined sister of Violette who is out to avenge all the wrongdoings against her sister. She is dressed a la Catherine Deneuve (Polanski’s Repulsion) complete with wig, with the sister Violette being pushed to safety from the Phantomas, murderer figure disguised as a lamb. This gives some impression of the crazy yet wildly intelligent way Steven’s literary mind would bring together previous work, with current reading ideas and images.

With thanks to Carol Campbell, July 2015

Steven Campbell Masterclass – Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. February 2015
Senior pupils from Glasgow schools recently took part in an intensive two day drawing and painting master class at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum.
This event was supported by the Steven Campbell Trust and led by Claire Paterson, the first winner of the Hunt medal presented by the Trust.