Happy Hour Drawing

Anna Mazzotta is a professional artist living between London and the West of England. Her work is figurative and combines exquisite draftsmanship, fresh originality and provocative humour; all evoking the lost world of Vaudeville entertainment. Largely working in oil paint and charcoal, the artist is deeply influenced by the splendor, magic, revelry and unsettling, hedonistic misery of Weimar Germany. The decadent, complex paradoxes of this anxious, emotional expressionist era is omnipresent in Mazzotta's extensive body of work. Colour and freedom exudes from the accurate, sensitive depiction of strong female lead characters which evoke Jeanne Mammen's observations of Berlin in the 1920's. Anna's powerful portrayal of women encompasses a clever cross-pollination of the social critique and dark mystery of Otto Dix, Edward Hopper and George Grosz combined with the wit of Thomas Rowlandson. Present in the art is Hilary Knight's understanding of the human spirit and the transient nature of nostalgic social satire. International art historian, critic and author Martin Gayford describes Anna Mazzotta's work as "a mixture between Rego and Dufy…". It is the hidden, unofficial side of a city which presents an informative and adventurous “behind the scenes” essence that embraces and intrigues the artist. Mazzotta says: "I hate perfection, it's so clinical, life isn't clinical neither is my work". The art is heavily induced by her love of cinema, theatre, the centrality of live performance and urban entertainment. The body of work offers a fresh look at magical realism and elevates Anna Mazzotta to a 21st century, contemporary flaneur. Anna achieved critical success while studying at the Royal College of Art. She was identified as a star of her graduating year and has since then built a following of patrons and collectors. Mazzotta's work is in notable private collections across the world. She is a previous winner of the Jerwood Drawing Prize, for originality and excellence. Anna Mazzotta has exhibited in solo and group shows as well as various artist in residence programmes.