Alexis Rago
Working at the convergence of science, religion and art, ceramic material becomes a plastic means of bringing objects of the mind into this world: to express in some way what it is to be here and now: purpose lies in witnessing existence. The most political statement I can make is to be totally apolitical to the point where my work does not reference the human world overtly but challenges societal perceptions of it own centrality in the world. I see this as part of a new movement that envisages humanity as a transient phase in the development of the universe; or is there something more deeply significant to ourselves as to how we transact with the environment in terms of resources, politics and art? I look to cross boundaries including between the traditional and avant garde in terms of a dialogue between the conceptual and the physical. This opens up a discussion that was long ago put to rest between art and craft by highlighting current reappraisals of skill versus idea and sentiment versus significance. What is interesting is that each viewer takes away what they bring in an altered form. This is what apoliticism is about, change without prejudice of the other, an embracing of the plurality of life marked as areas along a spectrum of possibilities.
Solo exhibitions
2014 - Craft Study Centre, University of the Creative Arts
2014 - 20-21 Visual Arts Centre
2013 - Alexis Rago: Chaos Contained, National Centre for Craft and Design, Sleaford
2013 - Frequency Festival, Impermanent and Everlasting, Chad Varah chapel, Lincoln
2011 - Art From Within Biology, Linnean Society of London, Burlington House
2011 - Speaking With Tongues, St Peter's Church, Kingerby, East Midlands
2008 - Eternal Metamorphosis, Dissenters Gallery, London
2005 - A Glimpse Through the Void, Czimmerl Gallery, Lincoln
2002 - New Work, Sam Scorer Gallery, Lincoln
2001 - Chromatic Hybrids, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe
1999 - Recent Work, Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery
1997 - Steel in the Art, Scunthorpe Museum and Art Gallery
1991 - Traces of Life II, Bolivar Hall, London
1990 - Traces of Life, Montespertoli Art Biennial, Italy
1989 - Fontanarosa Gallery, Empoli, Italy
1988 - The British Institute, Florence, Italy
1987 - Palazzo Dei Pellegrini, Barberino Val D'elsa, Florence, Italy
1985 - Landscapes, Empoli Town Hall, Italy
Group exhibitions
2013 - An Arrangement in White, XO Gallery, Leeds
2013 - Curiosity Aquired, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, North Lincolnshire
2013 - Zygote Festival, Sleaford
2012 - Forms Most Beautiful, Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth
2012 - Millpond Curated Bookshelf, Exhibition Hall, Saltaire
2012 - Winter Fine Art & Antiques Fair, Olympia, London
2011 - Trent Vale Landscape Project, Art in Churches, St Wilfrids Church,Nottinghamshire
2011 - Eurantica, Brussels Expo, Brussels
2011 - London International Fine Art and Antiques Fair, Olympia, London
2011 - OPEM, The Collection, Lincoln
2011 - Parallax 1, Royal Opera Arcade, London
2011 - Totem Body, Crypt Gallery, London
2010 - Meleager's Garland, Sir Joseph Banks Conservatory, Lincoln
2010 - Bend In The River, Gainsborough
2010 - Museums Association Annual Conference, Manchester Central, Manchester
2009 - Chaos Theories, Weekend Gallery, Hastings
2009 - Journey to the Centre of the Earth, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, North Lincolnshire
2009 - New Year Show, Blackheath Gallery, London
2007 - Bankrobber, London
2007 - Trinity Arts Centre, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
2006 - Usher Gallery, Lincoln
2006 - Gallery on the Strait, Lincoln
2006 - Special Photographers' Company, London
2004 - Light Box 3, Linn-Benton Community College, Albany, Oregon, USA
2004 - Out of Sight, Out of Mind, House Gallery, London
2002 - Inside Art, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, North Lincolnshire
2002 - Power of Art, Usher Gallery, Lincoln
2001 - Brigg Live Arts, Brigg
2001 - The Gallery, Lincoln
2000 - 01.01.01, touring exhibition, Lincolnshire County Council
2000 - Bend in the River, Gainsborough
2000 - Stamford Arts Centre,
2000 - Harding House, Lincoln
2000 - Moot Point Gallery, Louth
1999 - Cheers, The British Lime Gallery, Santa Ana, California
1999 - Ludwig Becks, Munich
1999 - The Talent Search Gallery, Santa Ana, California
1998 - Oxo Tower, London
1998 - Riverbank House, Klein Wort Benson, London
1998 - The British Lime Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
1997 - Pull up a Chair, Scunthorpe Museum and Art Gallery
1996 - Gallery 58, Inaugural Show, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
1996 - Cassian Gallery, Lincoln
1995 - Cassian Gallery, Lincoln
1994 - Ferens Art Gallery, Hull
1992 - Horncastle College, Lincolnshire
1990 - Bolivar Hall, London
1990 - Castello di Castellina in Chianti, Italy
1990 - Castello Vicchiomaggio, Greve, Florence
1990 - VI International Fair of Contemporary Art, Palazzo degl'Esposizioni, Florence
1989 - Fontanarosa Gallery, Empoli, Italy
1989 - Monastery of S.S. Annunziata, Empoli, Italy
1988 - Galerie Bruno Ract-Madoux, Paris
1986 - Flying Colours Gallery, Edinburgh
1983 - Palazzo Spinelli, Institute for Art and Restoration
1981 - Hampton Hill Gallery, London
1981 - Venezuelan Embassy, London
Curated projects
2011 - Gone with the Wind, Raven Row, London
2008 - Eternal Metamorphosis, Dissenters Gallery / Kensal Green Cemetery, London
2004 - Protoangel Visions, St Peter's, Churches Conservation Trust, Lincolnshire
2003 - Exhibition and Concert, St Peter's, Churches Conservation Trust, Normanby by Spital
2005 - Lincolnshire Landscapes - pinhole photography, various, Lincolnshire
2004 - Michelangelo Sculptures - Pinhole Photography, Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence, Italy
Artist talks
2014 - 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe, June 21
2014 - Artist's Talk. Craft Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts. Feb 26
2013 - Interview with Barry Hale, Frequency Digital Festival
2011 - An Artificial Natural History, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham
2011 - Art from within Biology, Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, London
2011 - Art in Churches, St Paul's, Trent Vale Landscape Project, Morton, Lincs
2011 - Art in Churches, St Wilfrid's, Trent Vale Landscape Project, Low Marnham, Notts
2008 - The Who, What and Why of an Art Work, Dissenters Gallery, London
2002 - Talk accompanying solo show, Sam Scorer Gallery, Lincoln
1994 - Italy, Ferens Art Gallery, Hull
1989 - Interview with Alexis Rago, Galleria Fontanarosa, Empoli, Italy
Residencies
2010 - Idolatrous Me, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham
2008 - Art from within Biology, Linnean Soc. of London Podcast, Binbrook School, Lincolnshire
Public commissions
2000 - 01.01.01. photographic commission, Lincolnshire County Council, Touring exhibition
2000 - Design for Lincoln Bus Station Environmental Refurbishment, Lincoln City Council, Lincoln
1996 - 'Greensite' public sculpture - Canute, West Lindsey District Council, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
1986 - Murals of 'contrade' for summer festival, Stadio Comunale, Montespertoli, Florence
1983 - Portrait of Simon Bolivar, Venezuelan Embassy, London Projects
Competitions, prizes and awards
2008 - Arts Grant, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London
2005 - Beneficiary Grant, Lincolnshire Creative Solutions Initiative, Lincolnshire
2004 - Grant for the Arts, Arts Council England, East Midland
1998 - Individual Artists Development Fund, Eastern Arts Board, East Midlands
1983 - 1st Prize for Drawing, Institute for Art and Restoration, Florence, Italy
Qualifications
Diploma Fine Art, Institute for Art and Restoration, Florence, Italy
BSc (Hons) Biology, Manchester University, UK
