Magdalena Antrobus

Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom

About Magdalena Antrobus

My painting is all about the relation between subjective and objective perception of the world. Having a background in philosophy, I am searching for an answer to the following question: to what extent does reality exist objectively and universally, and to what extent is it just an extension of my subjective beliefs, desires, and expectations? When painting, I hope to catch the unique moment of the encounter between my inner world and the objective, representational features of the landscape, seeking atmosphere with various degrees of abstraction. I start a painting by applying black thick layers of acrylic gesso to a canvas, followed by subsequent and multiple layers of acrylic paint, marker pens, and modelling paste, in purely intuitive, gestural work. I let my subconscious mind make its own marks, gradually transitioning from my inner to an outer landscape and from darkness to light. For the final layers of emerging scenery I most often choose oil paints enriched by a cold wax medium. This unique technique allows me to retain the subjective, “melted” atmosphere of the inner world, but – at the same time – it reaches out to the clear and objective features of reality. Once I am satisfied with the inner/outer balance, I consider my painting completed.

Education:

2001 - Master of Arts, Warsaw University, Poland
2017 - PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), University of Birmingham, UK

Events:

Awards:

Winning entry in "Acrylic 6" contest held by The Artists Network, 2018.

The recipient of "High Commendation" award at the Stratford Upon Avon Art Society Annual Exhibition, 2018.

Upcoming talks: "Art and Mental Illness" - invited speaker at the Mental Health and Wellbeing conference, University of Nottingham, 29 November, 2018

Upcoming publications:
"Illegal Alien" to be published in the "Acrylic 6" collection book by North Light Books (March 2019)

Exhibitions:

Recent exhibitions:

"From Dark To Light: Hope in Hopeless Place" Exhibition, 35 Chapel Walk Gallery, Sheffield, 14-22 December 2018

Kenilworth Art Festival, 2018, 20-29 September, UK

Stratford-Upon-Avon Art Society Annual Exhibition, August 2018, UK