An exhibition featuring new work by renowned local artists has been revealed, starting in the New Year.
Fertile Ground features the likes of Barbara Gibson and Mark Murphy, and will feature at Argentea Gallery from January 10.
Ms Gibson uses vintage images from mid-twentieth century magazines to create socially engaged pieces that reflect upon gender issues. Birmingham designer Murphy specialises in surreal pieces.
Ms Gibson said: “Collage is a tremendously exciting medium to work through. I’ve always had an interest in historic photography and, through collage, I can bring a new lease of life to works which were perhaps overlooked when they were originally published. This new collection of work represents a new approach for me and reflects the journey I am on as an artist.”
Mr Murphy's work plays with scale and form to produce simple, surreal pieces by taking pictures from books and magazines from the past 60 years.
He said his work critiques modern culture by literally slicing apart its imagery and reassembling it into striking, disjointed combinations.
He added: “Collage as a medium has such definite parameters and is so completely analogue, there is a rawness, that's quite the antithesis to the digital tools of contemporary graphic design. I love working within these limitations. I feel a bit like a hunter gatherer seeking out old print that intrigues me, then seeing how it can be altered, combined and recycled into completely new works.”
The exhibition will be on show at the gallery, on St Paul's Square, from January 10.
