In Situ: Tom Gerrard

"With an awareness of art history, I’m often drawn to artists who have depicted paintings within paintings. In particular, within Matisse’s Red Studio, the artist included  artworks which then developed their own mythology, gaining fame and becoming sought after simply for being in the painting. Through this work, I was intrigued to understand the artist’s life and surroundings, and loved his freedom in showing multiple styles and subjects within a single image.

For this body of work, I have been influenced by Matisse’s approach. Many of my recent paintings, ceramics and art objects were created to be included within interior settings of new paintings.

Completed artworks enter a painting and blend into their surroundings, taking part in the world that they now inhabit. At the same time, I reversed the approach, and brought imagery from the paintings into real life.

I love seeing my work in peoples’ homes because when most of the work I create is only experienced in my studio and in galleries. This sense of journey for my artworks is also part of my current approach, and this new body of work shows my vision of spaces where my art could reside. I envision my current work residing in calm, pleasant, comfortable environments. So I imagined the thing I rarely see; my work in such domestic settings, in situ."  - Tom Gerrard, 2023