Anna Dickinson: Everything Considered

About

Von Bartha, Basel are proud to announce a solo exhibition of new works by British glass artist Anna Dickinson, running from 7 September – 2 November 2019. In a first for the gallery, the show is guest-curated by the collector, philanthropist and design entrepreneur Catherine Walsh, affirming von Bartha’s continued dedication to challenging existing gallery models and collaborating beyond conventional art world practices.

Dickinson’s unique glass pieces experiment with innovative material combinations, often allowing the material to guide and govern the creative process. Drawing inspiration from across the art and design spheres, Dickinson’s work is particularly influenced by architecture – notably the progressive glass and steel constructions characteristic of  1990s Japan – geology and science fiction.

Science and space are important elements in Dickinson’s work, informed in part by a sense of „danger, excitement and potential" offered in the science fiction programmes of her youth. Citing geology – specifically stones and jewels – as the inspiration for much of her colour pallete, Dickinson points to a continuing fascination with her Grandmother’s Victorian Jet Jewellery collection. A recent visit to the Donald Judd Foundation in New York bears more immediate influence on many of the works at von Bartha, reviving in particular an interest in aluminium, as well as Dickinson’s decision to utilise primary colours – seen here in the artist’s works for the first time.

Throughout her work, the artist also explores how notions of gender might be played out in form, material, shape, translucence and opacity. Whilst the pieces have formed their own internal dynamics, Dickinson realises them as subconscious expressions of the varying aspects of her own identity. 

Having honed her extensive expertise by working for global fashion and beauty brands, including Estee Lauder and Coty, whilst building a deep knowledge of the art and design fields through her own collecting, Walsh’s curation offers a new perspective on the presentation of Dickinson’s artworks within the gallery space. At von Bartha, the exhibition stages dramatic lighting to reveal each piece’s inherent visual complexity – thus inviting a curiosity within the viewer to engage with each work from multiple perspectives.

Speaking of Dickinson’s solo show, Catherine Walsh says: The intention was to dive deeper into Anna Dickinson's psyche to understand how numerous and diverse influences throughout her life come together to create each individual piece. They are made of glass, yet there is nothing transparent about them; on the contrary it's the combination of materials, not the purity of one material, that moves them away from something direct to something quite opaque. The end result is a new body of serious, architectural objects that are void of the artist’s hand yet completely hand made.

About Anna Dickinson

Anna Dickinson (b. 1961, England) lives and works in London, and has been working as a glass sculptor for over 30 years.

Dickinson has exhibited at TEFAF for over 20 years. She completed a mini residency at the Mint Museum, North Carolina (2017) and her work has been included in presentations at von Bartha, S-chanf (2016), Musée Ariana, Geneva (2015), Das kleine Museum, Weiβenstadt, Germany (2013); European Triennial for Ceramics and Glass in Mons, Belgium (2010), Victoria & Albert Museum, London (2005); as well as at Venezia Aperto Vetro, Venice where she was a guest of honour (1996). The artist has been shortlisted for both the Bombay Sapphire Prize, London (2004 and 2005) and Jerwood Glass Prize (1996). Her work is held in renowned international collections including the V&A, Fitzwilliam Museum, Brighton and Hove Museums, Liverpool Museum, Castle Museum (Norwich) and Castle Museum (Nottingham) as well as the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio, Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo and Kyoto, and Coburg Museum in Germany, amongst others. Dickinson was a visiting lecturer at the Royal College of Art, London (2015-2019). 

About Catherine Walsh

Catherine Walsh is a philanthropist, entrepreneur and a leading figure in fashion and design. Prior to creating Walsh House, a strategy and product innovation consultancy, Walsh held senior positions at the Estée Lauder Companies, Revlon and Coty.

In her previous role as Chief Communications Officer of Coty, Inc., Walsh was the architect of Coty’s global brand vision and served as the spokesperson for the company. Previously, Walsh was the visionary behind the company’s elite beauty portfolio and helped steer Coty’s evolution as an industry trailblazer for over a decade.

With deep knowledge in the fields of art and architecture, Walsh is an avid collector and supporter. Her pop-up gallery ON MAIN in Telluride, Colorado featured the work of Jarrod Beck, Hadi Tabatabai and others. In addition to holding a number of advisory roles in fashion and beauty, Walsh also serves on the board of directors of the Chinati Foundation Marfa, Texas, and VIA Art Fund, Boston.

Walsh splits her time between London, New York and Telluride, Colorado.

About von Bartha

Since opening in 1970, von Bartha has exhibited modern and contemporary artists across historically significant movements such as Zero, Arte Concreto and Arte Madí. Representing over twenty-five artists and estates, the gallery’s programme presents contemporary artists in a dialogue with the history of Concrete and Kinetic art.

As one of the longest-running international contemporary art galleries, von Bartha continues to support the careers of influential artists such as Camille Graeser, Fritz Glarner and Olle Baertling. Building on these foundations, the gallery has established a contemporary programme, representing an international roster of artists working across a diverse range of media: Imi Knoebel, Superflex, Terry Haggerty, John Wood & Paul Harrison, Felipe Mujica, Sarah Oppenheimer and Landon Metz. The gallery nurtures new generations of artists, whilst supporting the continually evolving practice of their established artists.

Initially co-founded by Margareta and Miklos von Bartha, since 2008 the gallery has been under the direction of Stefan von Bartha. The gallery’s relocation and expansion to a converted garage in Kannenfeldplatz has allowed for full-scale exhibitions, including large-scale installations, retrospectives and performances. In 2006, von Bartha opened a second space, located in S-chanf in the Engadin Alps; the white cube space, in the site of a former barn of an old patrician house, is used for focused projects and site-specific installations. 

Von Bartha publishes books, exhibition catalogues and its own newspaper; featuring commissioned essays and interviews.

Press contacts

Emma Gilhooly or Lisa Hopf at Pelham Communications

+44 (0)20 89693959 

emma@pelhamcommunications.com or lisa@pelhamcommunications.com

@PelhamComms

Exhibition Facts

Title: Anna Dickinson: EVERYTHING CONSIDERED

Address: von Bartha, Kannenfeldplatz 6, 4056 Basel

Telephone: +41 61 322 10 00                            

Website: www.vonbartha.com

Preview: September 6 / 2019, 6-8pm

Dates: September 7 – November 2 / 2019

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 2 – 6pm, Saturday 11am – 4pm, or by appointment

Admission: Free       

Twitter: @vonbartha

Facebook: galleryvonbartha 

Instagram: @vonbartha #annadickinson #vonBartha @anna_dickinson_glass