“Off Kilter” Art Exhibition
8 artists from the North West who have never exhibited together before have been assembled for the first time for a major exhibition of their intensely personal and powerful work, as part of the Manchester Pride Fringe Festival.
This dynamic show, part of Manchester’s rapidly growing and popular Fringe arts and cultural event for the annual August Pride celebrations, is to be found at the very edge of the Village.
The extraordinary diversity of these artists reflects the fact that they do not come from one single group, studio or academic institution. The work they produce is drawn from enormously different backgrounds and life experiences, from which a compelling show emerges.
Carefully curated by artist Ian Rayer-Smith, “Off Kilter” presents a large exhibition of paintings, photography and sculpture.
“I wanted to select artists who I did not just admire, but who created work with an underlying sensitivity which would challenge us to ask questions rather than immediately give obvious answers”. Ian explains, “The diversity of these artists’ backgrounds, working processes and approaches to art makes for interesting individual subjects which also make strong connections with each other. I am thrilled to have these artists showing together, and there is certainly something here for everyone”.
The featured artists are Ian Rayer-Smith, Lee Baxter, David Hoyle, Emily Pitts, Darren Nixon, Marcus Wemyss, Mat Cahill and Colin Lloyd.
The range of scale of the works is as dramatic as the subjects they cover, with large expressive paintings juxtaposed with delicately rendered and intimate images and sculpture. This is a must see exhibition.
“Off Kilter” is on at Piccadilly Place, between Canal Street and Piccadilly Station, Manchester. Opens on 23rd August and is on until 30th, with a private view on Thursday 22nd August from 6pm.