Lucy Ash
Iris
Homeland
Portrait Artist
Symmetry Carnage
Biography / Artist statement
Lucy Ash uses texture and colour to convey meaning. She blends ideas of time, mathematics and rhythm to represent emotional responses to love, death and injustice. Lucy’s practice is to develop series of paintings rather than one off works, enabling an in-depth exploration around specific themes. An active supporter of LGBTQ rights, Lucy exhibited the series ‘Wrong Place, Wrong Time’, in 2011, designed to raise awareness of hate-crimes, following the brutal homophobic attack on Ian Baynham. Her paintings have been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions in the UK, in New York and Amsterdam. Her work Iris 02 has recently been acquired by Southampton City Art Gallery for their permanent collection.
Why do you love Wandsworth?
I’ve lived in Wandsworth since the early 90’s, having found the perfect home by accident. My partner and I were looking for a place in Chiswick and nothing was working out. We travelled through Wandsworth for every Chiswick viewing. One day we stopped and looked at a house just off the Northcote road and everything fell into place. My closest friend for the last 26 years moved next door a year later. I’m now off Clapham Westside and love it just as much. So many fortuitous things have come out of living here. Wandsworth has shaped the direction of my life as if it was meant to be. As an artist I value being able to step outside my front door and oxygenate my thoughts. Wandsworth enjoys commons and parks in spades. They give life, calm and balance to this multifaceted borough. Ponds and rivers also cut through so it’s not unusual to come face-to-face with exotic wildlife! On a weekend if I stroll alongside the river in Battersea Park it can feel like I’ve walked into a Monet and a parallel universe. Whatever you want I guess this creatively in touch borough has! For me the café lifestyle of the Northcote - that I’ve watched evolve over the years - is a key magnet. Another destination that’s close to my heart is Theatre503. As a launch pad for so many new writers it’s ethos and productions are laudable. Finally I think Wandsworth is a place with a sense of connection. Embodied by the hub that’s Clapham Junction train station (the worlds biggest traffic through station) I feel the freedom of a multitude of destinations at my fingertips.