Forming a contemporary exhibition space spanning four floors, CCA Galleries international showcases some of the best contemporary British art including; paintings, limited edition prints and sculpture.
CCA International is at the center of cultural life in Jersey; bringing an opportunity to view and purchase work by leading International and local artists and offering educational opportunities for the community.
The current show is:
Kay Le Seelleur Ara
Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat
September 20 - November 01
Over 100 new paintings since her 2023 solo exhibition at ArtHouse Jersey.
Kay Le Seelleur Ara orchestrates a joyfully strange wonderland in paint. Populated by all manner of curious creatures with dark undertones; the familiar and the strange, the diabolic and the angelic, her images are at once hilarious and tragic.
Kay Le Seelleur Ara, Open Wide, Acrylic on board, 2024
Asked about the subject of her paintings Kay Ara simply says “my head is always full of stuff, images just appear and I have to draw them”. Citing instagram as her biggest source of inspiration, this quick witted and restless artist is always on the lookout for possible subjects, piecing together her idiosyncratic tableaux from the visual currency of 75,000 years worth of human made images. Pulling magpie-like all that glitters into her sphere, from Korean ink paintings to minoan sculptures, figures dominate; animal, human or a mixture of both are full of colour and jostling with astonishing vitality. These vibrant works are accompanied by quirky titles that can be witty, silly, naughty, thoughtful or edgy, sometimes referring to contemporary politics, histories of art, everyday occurrences or the people and animals that share Kay’s life. In the same way that Philip Guston drew from both high and low culture Kay Le Seelleur Ara aims to make visible the world as she sees and feels it.
Kay was born in 1941 in St Albans, UK, following her mother’s evacuation from Jersey just before the invasion. She spent her early years during the war with family in the UK before returning to Jersey in 1945 after liberation. Kay found her passion for art and drawing in childhood. She attended Bath Academy of Art between 1958-1962, studying under artists such as Howard Hodgkin, Adrian Heath, Henry Cliffe and Gillian Ayres. Following art school Kay taught art in London and painted sporadically whilst raising her two children.
Following a fall that broke her hip in 2017, Kay is unable to walk unaided. Whilst this has left her in permanent pain and with limited mobility, she responded to this life-changing incident by establishing a routine of drawing and painting every day. Her output is extraordinary and this exhibition will be the culmination of a single year's work. Whilst the accident left her physically disabled it freed her from the responsibilities of everyday life and her artistic voice gets stronger and brighter with every new painting. Working from an armchair in her living room in Trinity, and a small painting studio in the spare bedroom, Kay now interacts with a global audience for her work through her three instagram accounts. Her instagram accounts are testimony to the dedicated and positive individual she is. Over the last few years she has developed a finely tuned practice of posting the work she completes each day, a diaristic record of her inventive mind and eclectic tastes, continuously honing in on what it is she wants to do as an artist, with a burgeoning style that has gained her a growing and engaged audience of admirers around the world.
Upcoming show
Glen Perotte – Mount Kenya's Rooted Resilience
Novemer 08 - December 06
SUMMER EXHIBITION AWARDS
Both received a cash prize to further their artistic pursuit and a future show at the gallery.
The RURAL Country Life prizes, recognising artwork that draws inspiration from aspects of Jersey’s natural environment, went to:
1st prize: Louise Ramsay (@louiseramsaypaintings) for ‘Coast Land, St Mary’
2nd prize: Graham Tovey for ‘Teal Serenity’
3rd prize: Anne Frances Le Moine for ‘Vision’
The Gallery Magazine Graphic Arts Prize award went to Mick Humpage (@mickhumpageart) with his piece ‘Milan’.
We would like to say a big THANK YOU to our judging panel: @tomhammick1, @benjohnsonart, and @suetimney, with special thanks to Ben Johnson who represented the judges at the event.
We would also like to to thank our sponsors once again for their generous support: @rbc @bcrlawllp @hawkgroupjersey @ruraljersey @nationaltrustforjersey and @gallerymagazine.
Back for its eighth edition, the Jersey Summer Exhibition continues to be the ultimate celebration of artistic inspiration and cultural vibrancy on the island. This exhibition has quickly become a highlight of the Jersey art scene, attracting both locals and visitors with its dynamic showcase of talent. The exhibition features a diverse array of works including ceramics, prints, photography, paintings, and sculptures, attracting collectors and art enthusiasts alike. Modelled after the renowned Royal Academy event in London, the Jersey Summer Exhibition stands out for its rigorous selection process. A panel of professional artists and critics carefully selects the exhibits, ensuring a dynamic and high-quality group selling exhibition. This opportunity not only provides artists with a prestigious platform but also helps to elevate their careers, whether they are emerging talents or professional artists.
This year’s selection panel boasts a remarkable line-up: Tom Hammick, painter and printmaker whose work is held in various public and private collections worldwide, including The British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Deutsche Bank, British Arts Council and The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia; Ben Johnson, painter recognized for his practice based on architectural space and intricated cityscapes whose work is included in permanent collections worldwide, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Centre Georges Pompidou, the Museum of Modern Art, New York; and Sue Timney, iconic designer best-known for her distinctive use of black and white graphic imagery and currently President of the British Institute of Interior Design.
The gallery would like to make special thanks to the exhibition sponsor and prize giver RBC, to exhibition sponsors Hawk and BCR Law and to the contributors Rural Magazine and their associated RURAL prize givers, National Trust for Jersey and Gallery Magazine for their contribution to the Jersey Summer Exhibition 2024, your support has made a difference, and we are deeply grateful for your generosity. Most importantly CCA Galleries International would like to extend our heartfelt thanks once again to all of the artists who submitted their work for this year’s edition.
The show runs through July 26th at CCA Galleries International, 10 Hill Street, St. Helier, with the gallery open to the public 12.00 - 6.00pm, Mon – Fri.
Tom Hammick's work probes the human condition in pulsating color, pushing the materiality of each medium into a contemplative narrative. There is an undeniable oscillation between the quietude of the subject matter-a lone figure on the beach, three figures tending a garden-and the artist's distinctly exuberant palette. We as viewers are left with an electrified stillness.
Tom Hammick is an artist living and working in London and East Sussex in the UK. He studied art history at the University of Manchester and later Fine Painting at Camberwell College of Art and NSCAD, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Canada. He has an MA in Printmaking, also from Camberwell, and until recently taught at Fine Art Painting and Printmaking for many years at The University of Brighton. Hammick is the proud father of three mostly grown children as well as a lover of music, theater, film, opera and poetry, all of which informs his work in a profound and tangible way. His work is held in various public and private collections worldwide, including The British Museum, London; Victoria and Albert Museum, London; Yale Centre for British Art, New Haven, CT; Deutsche Bank; De Beers; ING Barings; Arthur Anderson; British Arts Council and The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.
Ben Johnson was born in Llandudno, Wales. He studied at the Royal College of Art and lives and works in London.
Sue Timney has worked in Britain, Europe and Japan for over thirty years creating interior projects celebrating her own brand of exotic classicism under the TIMNEY FOWLER and SUE_TIMNEY banners. The work ranges from commercial and residential interior architecture to product design for interiors and fashion. She was made a Visiting Professor and Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Art in 2007, holds the Textile Institute’s Design Medal and nominated for the Prince Philip Designer's Prize by the Royal College of Art. From 2012 - 2014 Sue was President of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) and is she is currently a director of BIID. She was presented with the Merit Award from the Institute in 2022 for excellence in interior design practice; a contribution to the development of the Institute and a commitment to the wider field of design education.
The Jersey Summer Exhibition is the biggest open-call art exhibition in the Channel Islands, running June through to the end of July.
Each print has been hand signed by Sir Peter Blake CBE and will be sold to benefit Teenage Cancer Trust. A US version will be available to purchase at a later date to benefit Teen Cancer America. The print measures: 67cm x 68cm'Going Home UK ', has been printed at Coriander Studio London using 410gsm Somerset radiant white satin paper, with each image having 22 colours screen printed with a selected spot high gloss varnish.
On 15 March 2024, Mark Knopfler will release a new, special recording of his anthemic 'Going Home (Theme From Local Hero)', to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust and its American equivalent Teen Cancer America.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND PURCHASE
And, in a great honour, the track opens with Jeff Beck's final recording.
Roger Daltrey, Teenage Cancer Trust's Honorary Patron and co-founder of Teen Cancer America (with Pete Townshend), added harmonica, and Beatles icon Ringo Starr is on drums along with his son Zak Starkey, their two drum tracks switching from one to the other, revealing an unmistakable family style. Sting completes an extraordinary rhythm section on bass.
With artwork designed by Sir Peter Blake (The Beatles, The Who, Band Aid, Paul Weller etc), this release is a landmark in rock music history.
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Today’s featured work by @kay_leseelleur from her current solo exhibition ‘Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat’ takes its title from a famous quote by the late French poet Paul Valéry.
‘“War, a Massacre of People Who Don’t Know Each Other, for the Profit of People Who Know Each Other, but Don’t Kill Each Other”, Paul Valéry,’ features half-painted figures on both sides, each facing towards the centre of the composition at what appears to be an angel standing in between two buildings. Another angel lies on the floor, arms outstretched towards a tooth-bearing white dog. Some of the figures strike weapons as if suggesting a fight; others watch in astonishment at the events taking place before them. The backdrop is jet black, perhaps suggesting death and distruction. Valéry’s quote frames the piece in words hand-written by the artist, reinforcing the message.
With this piece Kay brings Valéry’s words to life via her strange and intriguing world while commenting on the harsh reality of war.
“War, a Massacre of People Who Don’t Know Each Other, for the Profit of People Who Know Each Other, but Don’t Kill Each Other”, Paul Valer, 2024Acrylic on Board
49 x 66 x 2.5 cm
19 1/4 x 26 x 1 inches
‘Kay Le Seelleur Ara: Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat’ runs at CCA Galleries International until 1st Nov.
Gallery opening times: Mon-Fri, 12-6pm. Please keep an eye out for special events.
Installation photograph by @maxburnett
#kayleseelleur #soloexhibition #jerseyart #jerseygallery #jerseyevent #ccagalleries #ccagalleriesinternational #artinjersey #artinoctober #newworks #newpaintings #roc #whatsoninjersey #artinsthelier #originalpaintings #paintingexhibition #paulvalery #famousquotes -
Thank you Rod McLoughlin for this fantastic piece in @jepnews today on our current @kay_leseelleur exhibition ‘Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat’.
‘Kay Le Seelleur Ara: Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat’ runs until 1st Nov.
Gallery opening times: Mon-Fri, 12-6pm.
#kayleseelleur #soloexhibition #jerseyart #jerseygallery #jerseyevent #ccagalleries #ccagalleriesinternational #artinjersey #artinseptember #newworks #newpaintings #roc #whatsoninjersey #privateview #openingdrinks #artinsthelier #originalpaintings#paintingexhibition#jepnews #jerseyeveningpost -
Today is #NationalPoetryDay so we thought it was the perfect day to share a few poems put together by Shirley MacWilliam during our ‘The Importance of Being Titled’ event a couple of weeks ago, created purely from the titles of @kay_leseelleur’s paintings.
During the talk, Shirley explored Kay’s descriptive titles which play a large part in the works themselves, delving into the artist’s wonderful world and sophisticated imagination.
Shirley explained: “In order to enjoy something of the overall wonderment of the titles I have irreverently pieced them together into little poem-like sequences. This is s very unorthodox thing to do and I hope Kay will forgive it…. but really poetry and insight is all in the titles.”
She then went on to read out ten short poems, three of which can be seen in the images above.
‘Kay Le Seelleur Ara: Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat’ continues until 1st Nov. Gallery opening times: Mon-Fri, 12-6pm.
#kayleseelleur #soloexhibition #jerseyart #jerseygallery #jerseyevent #ccagalleries #ccagalleriesinternational #artinjersey #artinseptember #newworks #newpaintings #roc #whatsoninjersey #privateview #openingdrinks #artinsthelier #originalpaintings#paintingexhibition #shirleymacwilliam -
Our current exhibition ‘Kay Le Seelleur Ara: Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat’ continues this week.
Presenting 170 original paintings by the artist, displayed over all three floors of the gallery, the show invites us into @kay_leseelleur’s joyfully strange wonderland, which is populated by all manner of curious creatures with dark undertones as she takes us on a journey of the familiar and the strange, the diabolic and the angelic, the hilarious and the tragic.
Gallery opening times: Mon-Fri, 12-6pm.
Please keep an eye out for special events.
Photographs by @maxburnett
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