Dale Grimshaw,biography



NEWS Solo show, 'Semi-Detached' at Signal Gallery October 2011. LINK TO THE NEW WORK HERE. Dale Grimshaw discovered his artistic voice the day he realized that he was able to express strong emotions through his art. Maybe not much of a revelation on the surface, but for this artist it was a liberating experience, opening up a whole new realm of visual possibilities. Very few artists in the contemporary art scene, dominated as it is by conceptualism and irony, have the courage and ability to paint with such passion and directness. For his next solo show at Signal Gallery, which is called ‘Semi-Detached’, the artist is again delving into psychologically intense areas of his own experience. Dominating his childhood was the figure of a violent father, who created a frequently unpredictable and very disturbed atmosphere for the family. Despite this, it was vital that at all costs that the appearance of ‘normality’ needed to be maintained. The new works explores these memories, uncovering the true sadness and even tragedy that can exist behind closed doors. In response to this, he has created a series of images in which several of the figures have the heads of ‘animals known to consume people alive’. These figures present a feral side of human nature and shows that untamed bullies will tyrannize domestic settings if left unchecked. Other works depict the vulnerability of the victims of abuse with touching sensitivity and compassion. Many of the paintings use a repeated pattern like surreal wallpaper as a background. As well as representing domesticity, the pattern itself can be significant, with links back to the figure (a deer pattern for a wolf headed figure – prey and predator). These obsessive motifs also symbolize, for the artist, the fixed nature of human behaviour, repeated over and over through the generations. This will be the Dale’s fourth London solo show. He has also shown in a number of high profile group shows in London and across the UK alongside Shepard Fairey and Banksy: as well as in Paris, New York, Berlin, Denver, Philadelphia, Lille and Amsterdam. He has been featured in numerous art journals and the press, including Juxtaopoz, Modart, Mynameis and The Independent. Dale has also been building a very strong reputation with a series woodcut prints, which he pastes up on the streets. He has developed a huge following for this area of his work and each new piece is keenly anticipated. His intricate and beautiful works have been seen across London and as far a field as Brazil, Paris and Copenhagen. June 2011 - Group show 'Artists On Artists' featuring the work of Guy Denning, Shepard Fairey, Jef Aerosol, Case, Ray Richardson etc. December 2010 - A three man show, 'True Brits', with Dan Baldwin and Jonathan Darby at The Black Book Gallery in Denver USA. December 2010 - Took part in the 'From L', group show at The Vertikal Gallery' in Lille, France. August 2010 - Group show at Signal Galley, 'Beyond Punk', featuring the work of host of famous punk musicians, including Adam Ant and Poly Styrene. April 2010 - My thrid solo show at Signal Gallery, 'Arcana' opened with a really busy Private View on the 8th April. The response to the show was very positive. March 2010 - I have also been featured in the April edition of Juxtapoz magazine. You can see one of my new works for my upcoming solo show. March 2010 - I have been featured in a new magazine Rooms - Art Uncovered. February 2010 - I took part in the Vitry Jam an event organised by C215 in Paris. Along with the man himself and many others, including Roa, I decorated the street of Paris with my woodcut prints. Also had three canvases in the gallery show which ran alongside the event. December 2009 - two of my street woodcut prints are in issue 10 of VNA magazine. December 2009 - two of my paintings are in the group show 'Mixed Signals' at Signal Gallery, London. October 2009 - one of my woodcut prints pasted up in London has been featured in the new book 'Street Artists - The Complete Guide' (www.graffitobooks.com) View the piece here September 2009 - A piece of my work will be included in the figurative show 'Represent' in London on November 5th alongside Matt Small, Swoon, Gavin Nolan and Elbow Toe. More details to follow. June 2009 - From June 5th - July 4th I am taking part in a group show in Berlin along with, amongst others Faile, D-Face, Jaybo and Judith Supine at Circle Culture Gallery. The show is called 'Self - Portraits'. "The idea of this exhibition is to approach the historical theme of self-portraits and to bring it into a contemporary art context". June 2009 - I will be taking part in Upfest which is a live painting/graffiti festival in Bristol, UK on 6th June. You can see me painting from about 12pm at the Tobacco Factory. I will also have several new works in a group show at The View Gallery as part of the festival. May 2009 - Cruel Brittania. Group Show of urban and street art in Philadelphia, USA along with Eine, SPQR & Sweet Tooth to name a few. The show starts May 1st. T&P Fine Art March 2009 - Brand new works will be shown at the Signal Gallery stand at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea, London from the 11th - 15th March: AAF January 2009 - Heart In Darkness solo show at Signal Gallery, London. Signal Gallery October 2008 - Dale will appearing and painting live at the Upfest festival at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol on the 19th October. It is a charity event for children of alcoholics: NACOA September 2008 - Signal Gallery have released further two editions of hand finished lithographic prints. The images that are available are 'Turning Point' and 'The New Labours of Hercules'. These can be viewed and bought at the following link: Dale Grimshaw Prints August 2008 - Dale has done two pieces of art in the sketchbook for the Mercy Centre Foundation Appeal Fund. You can link to the page here: The Mercy Centre Foundation Appeal Fund July 2008 - Dale took part, to great acclaim, at the Supercans Festival in Southampton in July 2008. Here's a shot of work in progress: Supercans Festival May 2008 - Here's a link to a short film made of Dale discussing the painting 'Cloe'. Artist Dale Grimshaw Talks
CONTACT THE ARTIST

NEWS

Solo show, 'Semi-Detached' at Signal Gallery October 2011.

LINK TO THE NEW WORK HERE.

Dale Grimshaw discovered his artistic voice the day he realized that he was able to express strong emotions through his art. Maybe not much of a revelation on the surface, but for this artist it was a liberating experience, opening up a whole new realm of visual possibilities. Very few artists in the contemporary art scene, dominated as it is by conceptualism and irony, have the courage and ability to paint with such passion and directness.

For his next solo show at Signal Gallery, which is called ‘Semi-Detached’, the artist is again delving into psychologically intense areas of his own experience. Dominating his childhood was the figure of a violent father, who created a frequently unpredictable and very disturbed atmosphere for the family. Despite this, it was vital that at all costs that the appearance of ‘normality’ needed to be maintained. The new works explores these memories, uncovering the true sadness and even tragedy that can exist behind closed doors.

In response to this, he has created a series of images in which several of the figures have the heads of ‘animals known to consume people alive’. These figures present a feral side of human nature and shows that untamed bullies will tyrannize domestic settings if left unchecked. Other works depict the vulnerability of the victims of abuse with touching sensitivity and compassion. Many of the paintings use a repeated pattern like surreal wallpaper as a background. As well as representing domesticity, the pattern itself can be significant, with links back to the figure (a deer pattern for a wolf headed figure – prey and predator). These obsessive motifs also symbolize, for the artist, the fixed nature of human behaviour, repeated over and over through the generations.

This will be the Dale’s fourth London solo show. He has also shown in a number of high profile group shows in London and across the UK alongside Shepard Fairey and Banksy: as well as in Paris, New York, Berlin, Denver, Philadelphia, Lille and Amsterdam. He has been featured in numerous art journals and the press, including Juxtaopoz, Modart, Mynameis and The Independent. Dale has also been building a very strong reputation with a series woodcut prints, which he pastes up on the streets. He has developed a huge following for this area of his work and each new piece is keenly anticipated. His intricate and beautiful works have been seen across London and as far a field as Brazil, Paris and Copenhagen.

June 2011 - Group show 'Artists On Artists' featuring the work of Guy Denning, Shepard Fairey, Jef Aerosol, Case, Ray Richardson etc.

December 2010 - A three man show, 'True Brits', with Dan Baldwin and Jonathan Darby at The Black Book Gallery in Denver USA.

December 2010 - Took part in the 'From L', group show at The Vertikal Gallery' in Lille, France.

August 2010 - Group show at Signal Galley, 'Beyond Punk', featuring the work of host of famous punk musicians, including Adam Ant and Poly Styrene.

April 2010 - My thrid solo show at Signal Gallery, 'Arcana' opened with a really busy Private View on the 8th April. The response to the show was very positive.

March 2010 - I have also been featured in the April edition of Juxtapoz magazine. You can see one of my new works for my upcoming solo show.

March 2010 - I have been featured in a new magazine Rooms - Art Uncovered.

February 2010 - I took part in the Vitry Jam an event organised by C215 in Paris. Along with the man himself and many others, including Roa, I decorated the street of Paris with my woodcut prints. Also had three canvases in the gallery show which ran alongside the event.

December 2009 - two of my street woodcut prints are in issue 10 of VNA magazine.

December 2009 - two of my paintings are in the group show 'Mixed Signals' at Signal Gallery, London.

October 2009 - one of my woodcut prints pasted up in London has been featured in the new book 'Street Artists - The Complete Guide' (www.graffitobooks.com) View the piece here

September 2009 - A piece of my work will be included in the figurative show 'Represent' in London on November 5th alongside Matt Small, Swoon, Gavin Nolan and Elbow Toe. More details to follow.

June 2009 - From June 5th - July 4th I am taking part in a group show in Berlin along with, amongst others Faile, D-Face, Jaybo and Judith Supine at Circle Culture Gallery. The show is called 'Self - Portraits'. "The idea of this exhibition is to approach the historical theme of self-portraits and to bring it into a contemporary art context".

June 2009 - I will be taking part in Upfest which is a live painting/graffiti festival in Bristol, UK on 6th June. You can see me painting from about 12pm at the Tobacco Factory. I will also have several new works in a group show at The View Gallery as part of the festival.

May 2009 - Cruel Brittania. Group Show of urban and street art in Philadelphia, USA along with Eine, SPQR & Sweet Tooth to name a few. The show starts May 1st. T&P Fine Art

March 2009 - Brand new works will be shown at the Signal Gallery stand at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea, London from the 11th - 15th March: AAF

January 2009 - Heart In Darkness solo show at Signal Gallery, London. Signal Gallery

October 2008 - Dale will appearing and painting live at the Upfest festival at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol on the 19th October. It is a charity event for children of alcoholics:
NACOA

September 2008 - Signal Gallery have released further two editions of hand finished lithographic prints. The images that are available are 'Turning Point' and 'The New Labours of Hercules'. These can be viewed and bought at the following link:

Dale Grimshaw Prints

August 2008 - Dale has done two pieces of art in the sketchbook for the Mercy Centre Foundation Appeal Fund. You can link to the page here:
The Mercy Centre Foundation Appeal Fund

July 2008 - Dale took part, to great acclaim, at the Supercans Festival in Southampton in July 2008. Here's a shot of work in progress:
Supercans Festival