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Inauguration: November 7, at 7.00 pm
Revolving around the reclamation of something sensed or experienced, the artist's first solo exhibition with the gallery highlights his mastery of the medium of oil paint.
Known for dense, richly colourful paintings filled with dramatic tension, Ajerman evinces how humour and horror are intimately linked. His work translates complex personal narratives into articulated oil paintings, in a thick painterly style that harkens back to modernist painting. Mixing emotional impact with a deliberated use of color, the paintings gain resonance from his deft use of mood and technique.
Ajerman uses the medium of watercolor not only as part of his working practice, but to convey the intimate connection between himself and his sitters. Made from direct observation, the watercolors often depict close friends, relatives, or lovers, an intimacy captured through the reduced possibility of overworking and correction dictated by the medium.
Born in New York in 1977, Michael Ajerman studied at the Corcoran and at the New York Studio School before receiving his master's at the Slade in London. His work has been shown in various exhibitions and fairs in New York and London, and he recently had his first solo show, "Long Way Round" at BISCHOFF/WEISS, London.
Joao Ribas, Curator and Art Critic. New York, NY
Education:
2001-2003 Slade School of Art. Masters of Fine Art.
2001 Yale at Norfolk Summer Art Program, CT, USA
1998–2001 New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture
1999-2000 University College London, Slade School of Art Exchange Program
1996-1997 Corcoran School of Art, Washington DC, USA
Solo Exhibitions:
2006 The Norfolk Lesson. AR Contemporary. Milan, Italy
2005 Long Way Round. Bischoff/Weiss, London, UK
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2007 ‘Sequence.’ Beldam Gallery. Brunel University, UK. Touring to Shanghai
2006 Mirror-Image, Artonomy Fine Art, Cornwall, UK
2006 Myth of Place, Nolia’s Gallery, London. Touring to Old Ladies House Art Space, Macao, China.
2006 Private: Staff Only, ICA, London, UK
2006 ‘Enlightenment,’ Sotheby’s London, UK
2005 SCOPEmiami, Bischoff/Weiss, Miami, USA.
2005 ARTfutures 2005, Contemporary Arts Society, London
2005 SCOPElondon, Bischoff/Weiss, London, UK
2005 The Figure Show 05, Jill George Gallery, London, UK
2004 The Relaxed Audience or Why Are We So Wise. Jeffrey Charles Gallery, London, UK
2004 Greetings from Chelsea, Edward Thorp Gallery. NY, USA
2004 DLA Art Award, Sarah Myerscough FA, London, UK
2004 ARTfutures, Contemporary Arts Society, London, UK
2004 New Work, New Artists, Jill George Gallery, London, UK
2004 The Figure Show, Jill George Gallery, London, UK
2003 RA Summer Show, Royal Academy of Art, London, UK
1999 Absolut Secret.”David McKee Gallery. New York, USA
Awards:
2003 British Institute Royal Academy Award
2003/2 Slade Bursary
1996 William Newman Memorial Painting Award
Articles:
2006 ‘How to Collect.’ Paul Arendt, The Guardian. October 12th.
2006 ‘Both an Outsider and a Painter’s Painter.’ Joao Ribas. The Sun. June 27th.
2005 ‘Ultimate Basel Blog: Days 4 & 5. Artinfo.com. December 4th.
2005 ‘Emerging Artists: Fair Game.’ Joao Ribas. Artinfo.com. November 28th.
2005 ‘Interview with Michael Ajerman’, H. Waddell, London Art and Artist Guide.
2005 ‘Monet, Manet, Money’, Lucia Van Der Post, The Times, January 19th.
2004 ‘Greetings from Chelsea’, New York Times, July 9th.
2004 ‘What’s on - DLA Art Award’, Metro Weekly, April 6th. Page 31.
2003 ‘Summer Exhibition.’ Royal Academy of Arts Magazine, Issue no.79,
Summer 2003. Page 51-2.
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