To celebrate 125 years of the Oxford Art Society, artists from all around Oxfordshire have come together to put on a large and exciting exhibition featuring some of the best talent in the county. There are some 180 works on show by OAS members and non-members including paintings, prints and sculptures, both figurative and abstract.
Will Gompertz, the BBC Arts Editor, generously gave his time to judge the Society’s Young Artist Competition. He had a difficult choice to make from all the entries but, after some deliberation, he decided on a work by Oxford Artist Arthur Laidlaw, entitled Apamea (Colonnade), a work using an unusual combination of Laser Toner, Acrylic, Primer, Masking Tape, Etching ink on Planning Paper. Arthur is just setting out on his career as an artist so the £1000 prize that was generously donated by an anonymous art lover will be sure to help him on his way.
Will Gompertz said during his speech at the exhibition ‘We’re living in extraordinary times in which we need art more than ever to help us navigate and understand what’s going on. That’s why this year’s OAS Young Artist Competition is so important. Art has a unique ability to identify and highlight the truth, as do young people. The combination of the two should be revelatory’.
The Exhibition is open every day 10.00 to 4.00pm and continues until the 2nd October at SJE Arts, The Cloister Gallery, St John the Evangelist Church, Iffley Road, Oxford.
The Oxford Art Society is an exhibiting Society of Painters, Printmakers and Sculptors and prides itself on encouraging the practice of Fine Arts. This anniversary exhibition provides an ideal opportunity to showcase both the young and inspirational talent the city and surrounding area has to offer, as well as viewing the works of more established artists.
