Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2024

My two paintings: ‘East Bridge House (Turn Left)’ and ‘More Than One’ have been selected for the Royal Academy of Art’s Summer Exhibition 2024, coordinated by sculptor Ann Christopher RA and her committee of leading British artists and architects.

Courtyard of the Royal Academy, showing the banner for the Summer Exhibition 2024
Artist Matt Bannister standing in front of his painting 'East Bridge House' at the Royal Academy, London.

Proudly standing in “Concrete Corner” alongside ‘East Bridge House (Turn Left)’. Selected by Anne Desmet RA for her Gallery VII.

Gallery VII at the Royal Academy 2024
 
Painting by Matt Bannister showing giant raspberries in wooden cages. The title of the work is 'More Than One'.

‘More Than One’ by Matt Bannister. Selected by Anne Desmet RA for her Gallery VII.

Painting by Matt Bannister showing giant raspberries in wooden cages. The title of the work is 'More Than One'.
 
'More Than One' painting by Matt Bannister hanging in the Royal Academy

Both works are in the same room (gallery VII), curated by Anne Desmet RA, look great on the grey walls and have lovely neighbours to keep them company over the Summer. The show opened its doors on Tuesday 18th June, and will be closing on Sunday 18th August 2024.

 

East Bridge House, Croydon

The story behind the painting.

 
 

Solastalgia Exhibition at Turf Projects

I am taking part in a group exhibition called Solastalgia at Turf Projects, Croydon.

Installation view of the exhibition ‘Solastalgia’. Works shown are by Anita Wadsworth, Matt Bannister, Asha Fontenelle, Flora Hunt, Dave Miller.

“Solastalgia occurs when someone feels a sense of anxiety, grief, or loss due to the degradation or alteration of their home environment. It is the inability to find solace in one’s surroundings.”

 The end of 2023 marked Turf Projects’ 10 year anniversary. It has been a time to look back at the journey the organisation has been on, celebrating all that we’ve achieved; and also to look forward to the space we are yet to carve out, the Croydon of the future we would like to create.

Following on from themes from our last programme ’Desire Paths’, and linking in to Turf’s year of ‘demystification’, Turf staff, studio holders, and collective members have contributed works to a group show exploring our relation to home, to sense of belonging, to Croydon and space – or lack thereof.

‘Solastalgia’ incorporates the work of 21 artists and groups to create a communal Croydon folklore; some works that celebrate our shared space, and some that show longing for those that have been lost.

Installation view of the exhibition ‘Solastalgia’. Dark Park by Matt Bannister.

Installation view of the exhibition ‘Solastalgia’. Works shown are Dark Park by Matt Bannister and pieces by Asha Fontenelle, and Dave Miller.

My large scale drawing (the largest I’ve done for a good few years) Dark Park is on display for the first part of the exhibition until 22nd March. From 23rd March to 27th April other pieces by me TBC will be on show.

Installation view of the exhibition ‘Solastalgia’. Photograph: ©Zoe Maxwell.

‘Solastalgia’ at Turf Projects. Photograph: ©Zoe Maxwell.

26 Jan – 27 Apr 2024

Turf Projects, 46-47 Trinity Court, Whitgift Centre, Croydon CR01UQ

Free & open to all

Royal Society of British Artists 2024 Exhibition

I was very lucky to have been one of the non-members selected for the Royal Society of British Artists 2024 Exhibition.

February by Matt Bannister (framed)

Here’s my work ‘February’ that Croydonians may also recognise from the banners hanging from lamp posts in and around the town (See previous post). Not surprisingly there were lots of great pieces by the artists at the exhibition at The Mall Galleries. There is now an online catalogue to view the show here.

Art On The Streets Of Croydon

My paintings have been blown up (onto banners) as part of a town-wide art installation in central Croydon.

Montage using Glenn Foster photography

Three designs of lamp-post banners - featuring slices of my paintings ‘February’, ‘People’ and ‘Night Flowers’ are now hanging up and repeated on the High Street and elsewhere in Croydon. Alongside them are some other really bright, eye-catching works on banners by local creatives Miguel Sopena, Divya Sharma, Skye Baker and Melanie Russell. The Creative Croydon initiative set up by Croydon BID has returned to Croydon town centre this Winter creating an open-air art gallery for people to enjoy.

Thanks so much to Julia at 31% Wool and the Check Out Croydon team for making this happen. Thanks to Glenn Foster for taking these photographs, too. The whole display of work is up until April 2024.

For more background to the project visit Croydonist.

All the artists’ works appearing in the outdoor ‘exhibition’.