Current Artist in Residence

Mixed-media artist Ewa Podles will be in residence in the Art Yard Studio from 16 December 2024 to 2 March 2025.

During her residency, Ewa will work on a project called ‘Between’ , which merges portraiture with abstraction to create a balance between the real and the undefined.

Inspired by classic female portraiture and abstract art, Ewa plans to combine these two practices to capture the essence of the female form more openly and expressively. By combining traditional portrait techniques with the abstract form, Ewa aims to build another layer of connection between the artwork and the viewer using various materials such as paper, canvas, ink, and acrylic — hence the title ‘Between’.

“Creating an image is a journey between imagination and matter, between artistic vision and the skilled gesture of the tool, between a set of aesthetic preferences and the ability to express them within the limited frame of a canvas. Between these, an alchemical act takes place – invisible, mysterious, the sub-conscious transitioning to the conscious, and sometimes spontaneously expressed in a single brushstroke.”

Looking at the surrounding physicalities of the Southbank and Bankside Hotel, Ewa’s main goal is to evolve her artistic process and create a collection of paintings that mirror the modern beauty of the hotel’s architecture. Through the synthesis of portraiture and contemporary abstraction, Ewa hopes to provide an immersive and creative experience for those who visit the studio.

Ewa will also examine her interactions with hotel guests and local community members to further inspire her abstract portraits. During her time in residence, Ewa will take over the Contemporary Collective Instagram to share regular updates, progress videos, and images of her work. Follow her progress on Instagram @Contemporary_Collective.

About Josie’s Practice:

“If I were to define myself in a word, I would say “aesthetic”. I am a collector of beautiful experiences, and my overarching desire is to introduce harmony all around, creating spaces in which one can experience the joy of the aesthetic. I am a glass designer by trade, but I have been painting for many years. I study the subject and weave my ownvision into the portrait of the person I am painting. Even here, within the small space of an image, I strive to find beauty. I look for it in human faces, eyes and hands, even when I depict pain, loss, or despair. I consider music to be a vital ingredient of my daily diet. Music in the background and the everyday bustle of life. But it is when I paint that music comes into its own as an indispensable medium for my emotions.”

Open House

Art Yard Maker’s Studio has an open-house policy, so if you‘re visiting our neighbourhood’s major art galleries, Southbank Centre, Tate Modern or Hayward Gallery why not stop by to see an artist at work.