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Emma Copley

Newmarket
Emma Copley (b.1979, Dublin) I was born in Ireland, grew up in the United States, and live and work in the UK. My paintings – on wood panels, perspex, and paper – explore personal experiences of isolation, love, and connection.
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I was born in Ireland, grew up in the United States, and live and work in the UK. My paintings – on wood panels, perspex, and paper – explore personal experiences of isolation, love, and connection. The bodies that I paint and draw are caught in motion; they are making recognisable gestures, dancing, swimming, moving together. I take pictures of these moments and then fold the photographs. Using the manipulated photo as a starting point, I create the composition and eliminate areas from the image in order to intensify the emotion.

Pale pink synchronized swimmers on top of long legs; two figures intimately connected over window fragments. I paint in layers with thick oils on wood and smooth, flat gouache on paper. When using oils, I paint quickly with brushes and a palette knife – spreading globs of paint on a smooth hard surface, wet into wet, carving out forms and building up texture. The recognisable parts of the image and the texture of the thick paint draws you in, while unfinished areas allow your eye to complete the image and the smell of oil holds your attention.

My paintings begin with muted tones, mixing greys tinted with primary colour, ending with an infusion of bright colour that relates closely to these. I spend a lot of time looking at my palette and mixing groups of colour. Brushstrokes vary between smooth, slow, thoughtful marks and fast, thick layers of paint. I tear up paintings and rearrange them to create new compositions – this has become an important part of my process. 

My largest works are 14 metres long and the smallest are 15 x 22 centimetres. The accordion book format, heavy wood panel surface, and recurring window motifs are devices that reinforce personal histories and offer the freedom to explore my own experience as a gendered body in this world.

 

Swimmers on top

Coming back together

Crouch

Nana

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Venice Fellowships Programme - Open Call for Fellows 2026

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Highlights: 16 - 22 March, 2026

By Axis
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Bursaries 2024

In 2024 we gave out £500 bursaries to the following Axis Professional Members: Sarah Skinner, Caitlin Griffiths, Michael Takeo Magruder, Hannah Leighton-Boyce, Michelle Baharier, Ricky Romain, Luminara Florescu, Catherine Wynne-Paton, Jera May.

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