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A n n a I l s l e y

@annailsley

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studio @asylumstudiosuk
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June-Sept: Wabi-Sabi @paulsmithdesign curated by @marcelle.joseph
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@studioashby @sisterbystudioashby @sophieashby When I received the invitation to Studio Ashby’s first Open Day, I was so excited. 💙🙏Anyone who knows me knows that Sophie Ashby is one of my biggest design inspirations. I love her fearless use of colour, the way she mixes styles and periods, and how art is always at the heart of her interiors. We spent a lovely day in London and finished it with a visit to Studio Ashby’s beautiful home at the former Blewcoat School building in St James’s, London. Although we were only there for about an hour, it was such a special experience. Meeting Sophie in person, chatting with her lovely team over a glass of wine, and seeing my boys enjoying the arts and crafts with other children made it all feel so relaxed and welcoming.❤️ Sharing a few snaps from the day, including some of Studio Ashby’s iconic pieces: the Liana side chair, the Potto armchair, the chess swivel chair, the Ivo armchair, the puzzle ottoman, beautiful coffee tables, artwork by Anna Ilsley, @annailsley and so many inspiring details. A wonderful afternoon full of creativity, design and genuinely lovely people. 🤍 #interiordesign #studioashby #sisters #meetingyourfavoritedesigner. 🌺 #designinspiration
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'Host', by Suffolk-based painter @AnnaIlsley.⁠ ⁠ In this undulating body of work, Anna sets the stage for the swelling, heaving, expansive inner worlds of women and the relationships between them, capturing the steady glow of self-possession that comes with age.⁠ ⁠ Drawing on ancient myth, medieval and renaissance art and contemporary experience, her paintings ask how women's bodies are controlled, revered and feared. We've long admired her work.⁠ ⁠ ⁠Artwork Featured: ⁠ Big Mother, 2026⁠ Heretics, 2026⁠ Sisterhood ii, 2026⁠ Odalisque, 2026⁠ Crop, 2026⁠ Fire Sprite, 2026⁠ ⁠ Portrait by j.j.quin ⁠ 'Host' is now on display in Blewcoat, and all artworks are available to purchase exclusively via our bio.⁠ ⁠ #SisterByStudioAshby #AnnaIlsley #ArtistShowcase
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Introducing 'Host' by @annailsley.⁠ ⁠ We have the pleasure of introducing our latest Artist Showcase with @annailsley (b. 1982), and her undulating body of work, 'Host'. In this collection, Ilsley concocts canvases built of bruised sunset palettes, curves that swell unapologetically, and women who ooze conspiratorial joy, shared wonder and each other’s shadows.⁠ ⁠ Featured Artwork: ⁠ The Quickening, 2023⁠ ⁠Sisterhood iii, 2026⁠ Little Witch, 2026⁠ Confessional, 2026⁠ Movie Night, 2026⁠ Midwife, 2026⁠ ⁠ Explore 'Host' now online via our bio, or visit us in person at The Blewcoat School.⁠ ⁠ Photography by @dean.hearne⁠ Accompanying essay by Catherine McCormack⁠ ⁠ #SisterByStudioAshby #AnnaIlsley #ArtistShowcase
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Coming soon to Sister: a new Artist Showcase with @annailsley.⁠ ⁠⁠ 'Host' features myth-inspired paintings that confront motherhood and the female body head-on - vivid, fleshy figures that push against the limits of the canvas.⁠ ⁠ Be the first to hear when it launches - sign up to our newsletter.⁠ ⁠ #SisterByStudioAshby #SisterArtistShowcase #AnnaIlsley #ComingSoon
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Some snaps our 4 September to Asylum Studios (established 25 years ago!) in Bentwaters Park in Rendlesham, Suffolk with @emmahowe88, Director of The Minories. Image 1: With @emmajwithers and her mesmerising piano painting; Image 2: Another painting by Emma Image 3: Artwork by @philip.robbins Image 4: Artworks by Anna Ilsley Image 5: @annailsley and Emma deep in convo
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Cómo situar el arte en relación con otras disciplinas y ampliar los contextos en los que puede ser experimentado. Wabi Sabi: Untangling the Meaning of Beauty, comisariada por Marcelle Joseph en Paul Smith Space, Londres, es un ejemplo de nuevas formas de experimentar una propuesta artística. Nueve artistas mujeres —entre ellas la española Chechu Álava— reunidas en torno al concepto japonés de wabi-sabi y a una idea de belleza alejada de la perfección. Aquí la curaduría va más allá de la selección de artistas y obras. Incorpora el propio contexto espacial: las obras entran en relación con el universo visual y material construido por Paul Smith, donde diseño, objetos y arte forman parte de una misma propuesta cultural. No se trata de convertir el espacio en una galería convencional, sino de entender que su identidad participa en el planteamiento curatorial. Esta forma de trabajar amplía el concepto de espacio expositivo y sitúa la curaduría en un campo más complejo: no solo qué se presenta, sino también desde qué contexto se establecen las relaciones entre las obras, el lugar y el público. No es un caso aislado. La diseñadora Rejina Pyo (@rejinapyo ) desarrolla también en Londres una interesante relación entre su propio universo creativo y la curaduría artística. Su caso merece otro post. Cuando una figura o una marca con influencia pone sus recursos, su espacio y su capacidad de convocatoria al servicio de un proyecto artístico, esa influencia puede convertirse en una forma concreta de apoyo al arte. 📍 Wabi Sabi: Untangling the Meaning of Beauty Paul Smith Space, Londres Comisariada por Marcelle Joseph Anna Ilsley, C Lucy R Whitehead, Chechu Álava, Gal Schindler, Grace Mattingly, Harriet Gillett, Lindsey Mendick, Sophie von Hellermann y Susie Green. #WomenArtists #curatorssupportingartists #womensupportingwomen #paulsmith #españolesenlondres
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Catch the last week of my curated project, ‘Wabi Sabi: Untangling the Meaning of Beauty’ at Paul Smith Space in Mayfair. It closes on 14 September. Showcasing the work of nine female-identifying artists who seek beauty in balance and harmony as well as the imperfection of life: Anna Ilsley C Lucy R Whitehead Chechu Álava Gal Schindler Grace Mattingly Harriet Gillett Lindsey Mendick Sophie von Hellermann Susie Green Utilising a spare organic line, a pale palette, or a judicious use of negative space, these artists construct harbours of solace in their works in direct contrast to our increasingly chaotic time on planet Earth. This economy of line, form and composition in the works represents an understated aesthetics that could be interpreted as ‘wabi-sabi’. In many ways, the modest form of expression employed by each artist draws similarities to ikebana - the single flower in a vase that everyone bows to before taking their place at the tea ceremony table. And like the tea ceremony, these artworks emphasise direct experience over verbal explanation, just as wabi-sabi is best understood in a non-verbal experiential way. Painting and sculpting are activities, ones just like the ancient Japanese arts of the tea ceremony, and the cultivation of bonsai. Like the tranquil simplicity found in these activities, the beauty sought by these nine artists is a state of mind, reminding us to slow down and take comfort in the natural beauty around us, however imperfect or impermanent it may be. Images are tagged. @annailsley @c.lucy.r.whitehead @chechualava @galssschindler @grace__mattingly @harrietgillettart @lindseymendick @sophievonhellermann @susiegreen_ Paul Smith Space 9 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BL Exhibition Dates: 5th June 2026 – 14th September 2026
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Some more art I’ve enjoyed looking at (and writing about) recently. My new Substack article is in my bio!
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My painting ‘Red Girl’ is up at @paulsmithsfoundation tucked in a gorgeous blue nook under the stairs 🌹 The piece is included in ‘Wabi-Sabi: Untangling The Meaning of Beauty’ curated by @marcelle.joseph Oil on canvas mounted on panel 10 x 20 cm 2026 Installation view at the @paulsmithsfoundation with @annailsley 🦋 With her friends before leaving the studio 👠 This is a gorgeous fertility goddesss and source of inspiration for this work, made in 5600-5000 BC in Mesopotamia. I love this powerful Bronze Age Minoan snake goddess from Crete - another source of inspiration. 🐍
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I’ve never curated a fashion boutique until now! Thank you to Paul Smith Exhibitions Manager @ktheller and @paulsmithdesign for this opportunity. Here are some install shots by @gilliesadamsonsemple of the Paul Smith Boutique at No. 9 Albemarle in Mayfair. And thank you to the artists whose gorgeous work made this happen in such a wabi-sabi way! Anna Ilsley C Lucy R Whitehead Chechu Álava Gal Schindler Grace Mattingly Harriet Gillett Lindsey Mendick Sophie von Hellermann Susie Green @annailsley @c.lucy.r.whitehead @chechualava @galssschindler @grace__mattingly @harrietgillettart @lindseymendick @sophievonhellermann @susiegreen_ Paul Smith Space 9 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BL Exhibition Dates: 5th June 2026 – 14th September 2026 Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 11am to 7pm, Sunday 12 noon to 6pm
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THE 🎨 CIRCUS🐒 IS COMING📚 EAST🐬! On the fifth leg of the tour, I'm bringing the After Sessions to Kent, Cambridge and Suffolk (there's also a rumour of something in Norwich on 3 July… watch this space.) The After Sessions are small local events, held in the spirit of my new book How to Enter the Art World After - each session starts with presentations by local artists who will share their new work and current projects. This will be followed by an hour-long Q&A during which you can ask me anything - bring your burning questions. The end of each session is a chance to chat over a cup of tea or drink. . Link to book all events in my bio Thanks to all of the artists and gallerists who are hosting theres sessions - and to all of the artists taking part. . How to Enter the Art World After is published by @hoxtonminipress with illustrations (including the one on this post - which is one of my favourites) by @jemimaburrill) 22 June, 6-8pm Pie Factory, Margate @piefactorymargate hosted by @100_hours 23 June, 6-8pm The Collective, Folkestone hosted by @kollectivfolkestone and @beccapf 24 June, 6.30-8.30pm The Horsebridge, Whitstable @thehorsebridge @hann_wenn @lizmayjeweller with presentations by David Adams @davids_headcases Susan Jessop @naturescardigan Kim O’Neil @kimoneilstudio Sue Westergaard @suewestergaard 25 June, 6-8.30pm The Assembly rooms, Faversham Hosted by Sonia McNally @soniamcnallyartist WIth presentations by Alice Herrick @aliceherrickstudio Helene Williams @elle.en.williams Elise Riggs @eliseriggs.art 1 July, 6.30-8.30 CORPUS, Cambridge Hosted by @corpusgallery_ and @tamsin_morse 2 July, 5.30-7.30pm Asylum Studios, Suffolk Hosted by @asylumstudiosuk and @annailsley
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‘Wabi-Sabi: Untangling The Meaning of Beauty’ is open until September at @paulsmithsfoundation 🌟 What an honor to be working with curator @marcelle.joseph and @ktheller at @paulsmithsfoundation and to exhibit with such an incredible group of artists! @sophievonhellermann @lindseymendick @galssschindler @c.lucy.r.whitehead @harrietgillettart @susiegreen_ @annailsley @chechualava Please be in touch @marcelle.joseph for a catalogue of the exhibition and to inquire 🐎
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