Graham Boyd Volatile Creatures

About

Born in 1928, Graham Boyd has been practising as an artist for seven decades and his work has been exhibited and represented in collections across the globe. Boyd’s practice reveals a steady progression of work underpinned by a fascination with the hidden forces of nature. Known as a veteran of abstraction, he resided in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) during 2 the 1950s, a period that had a profound impact on his perception of space and its representation.

The earliest works to be exhibited in the show are the New Hampshire Grids, developed whilst Boyd was working as a Professor at the University of New Hampshire, USA. These meticulous and repetitive drawings contrast with the expressive, larger, colourful paintings of the 1980s, but have combined to inspire the artist’s most recent work.

Boyd’s work changed dramatically after taking part in Triangle, USA, with Sir Anthony Caro in 1983. The workshop brought together a host of international painters and sculptors for an intense period of experimentation and creativity. His paintings from this period reflect his changing aspirations, working with a sense of scale and with intuition rather than planned logic.

At 94, Graham continues to work from his Hertfordshire studio, relishing the unpredictability and power of colour, and continually experimenting with shape and form. As he himself says, “the main thing is to be able to be surprised by what is encountered."

His recent work has also involved reworking earlier pieces, as with DNA - a canvas from 1971, reworked in 2020, bringing together these distinct periods in his career into a new work included in the exhibition.

Talking about the show, curator Elizabeth Murton commented, “Graham is interested in what is hidden, what is universal and what forms us as ‘volatile and complex creatures’. Visitors to the exhibition will see how he brings contrasting forces together – order and chaos as seen in Apollo and Dionysus in Greek mythology. With great energy, he merges seemingly contrasting colours, forms, and methods together and gives the opportunity for different possibilities and harmonies.”

Murton continues, “It has been a great pleasure talking to Graham about his work and how it has developed over the last 50 years. His encyclopaedic knowledge and passion for art is matched by the depth of his commitment to paint. We are thrilled to be hosting such a celebration of his work and look forward to welcoming visitors to the show throughout the summer.”

Graham Boyd: Volatile Creatures runs from 21 July to 10 September 2022 at the University of Hertfordshire, Art + Design Gallery, College Lane, Hatfield. Find out more at: www.uharts.co.uk @UniHertsArts

For images, interviews or more information please contact: Elizabeth Murton e.murton@herts.ac.uk Notes to Editor:

About the Exhibition and Supporting Programme Graham Boyd: Volatile Creatures 21 July – 10 September 2022 University of Hertfordshire, Art + Design Gallery, College Lane, Hatfield AL10 9AB Open Mon-Fri: 10.00–16.00 & Sat: 11.00–15.00 Free Entry

Supporting Programme:

Thursday 8 September Artist Talk with Graham Boyd Plus exhibition catalogue and artist film. For full details go to www.uharts.co.uk

About Graham Boyd

• Graham Boyd was born in Bristol in 1928.

• His time in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from 1953 to 1955 had a profound impact on his perception of space and its representation.

• Boyd studied illustration at Watford School of Art from 1948 to 1951.

• He was an Assoc. Professor at the University of New Hampshire, USA from 1972-73, a period during which he developed the New Hampshire Grids.

• Boyd is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Hertfordshire and was Head of Painting and Course Leader in Fine Art at Herts College of Art and Design from 1976 to 1993 (which is now the University of Hertfordshire).

• In 1983 he participated in the Triangle International Workshop, New York, USA, with Sir Anthony Caro.

• Graham Boyd’s paintings are also in the UH Art Collection and can be seen on campus.

• Boyd is represented by Goldmark Gallery in Uppingham. A Royal Television Society nominated documentary and further examples of his work can be viewed at www.goldmarkart.com

• For more information visit www.grahamboyd.co.uk About UH Arts + Culture, University of Hertfordshire

• UH Arts + Culture offers a vibrant arts and cultural programme for the University of Hertfordshire’s campus and local communities, working cross-arts with artists and performers.

• With a programme of exhibitions, performances, residencies and engagement projects, UH Arts + Culture delivers innovative arts and culture with associated research; offering space for artists and performers to experiment, and audiences to engage and coproduce.

• Working in collaboration with St Albans Museum + Gallery, and other key partners, UH Arts + Culture presents off-campus exhibitions and events, displaying works from around the world in new contexts.