Gemma Cumming
Wokingham
Gemma Cumming graduated in 2006 from Loughborough University (School of Art and Design) with a BA in Fine Art. Looking at ideas of failed perfection, anticipation and tourism, her work primarily reacts to imagery that sells an expectation of a place, not its reality.
Through various media she aims to subvert this kind of imagery. Using paint, she creates giant painted postcards with an ominous twist. Replacing the blue skies with darker and/or more ominous ones, while retaining the brightly lit foreground, and occasionally adding other incongruous objects she asks the viewer to look again at the scene. She also creates drawings, prints and other works that explore similar themes and concerns.
Qualifications and training
2003 - BA hons Fine Art (Painting) 2006, Loughborough University School of Art and Design, Loughborough
2002 - Foundation Studies in Art and Design 2003, Surrey Institute of Art and Design, Farnham
Solo exhibitions
2012 - While Things Were Good, South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell
2011 - Summer is Coming, Maiden Place Shopping Centre - Empty Shop, Lower Earley, Reading
2010 - Greetings from the Mantlepiece, ReOrsa Project Space, 114 Broadway, Bracknell
2006 - Solo Show in Old Foyer LUSAD, Loughborough University School of Art and Design, Loughborough
Group exhibitions
2012 - Boundaries and Beyond, Gallery@49, Bracknell
2012 - Mis-InFormation, Fringe Arts Bath, Bath
2012 - Spring Open, Ark Conference Centre, Basingstoke
2011 - All That Remains, ReOrsa Project 5 at More Arts Space , Wokingham
2011 - Brighton Open, Open Fridge, Brighton
2011 - Double Lives: Duple Trials, Malt Cross Gallery, Nottingham
2011 - Inaugural exhibition , Royal Berkshire Bracknell Clinic, Bracknell, Berkshire
2011 - Jungle City Edinburgh, Elephant Family, Edinburgh
2011 - Light Bite, Open Fridge, Nottingham
2011 - Trans-Siberian Arts Centre, A KITCHEN project, travelling from Moscow to Beijing
2011 - Unblank, Square Art Exhibition, Golden Square, London
2011 - Wokingham Arts Trail, Maiden Erlegh School in association with More Arts Wokingham, Wokingham Borough, Berkshire
2010 - 5th Annual Summer Exhibition, Atelier-East, Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech
2010 - Elephant Parade London 2010, Elephant Family, Throughout London
2010 - Summer, Crocus Gallery, Church Square, Lenton, Nottingham
2009 - Ideas Bank 2009, Slough Museum, Slough
2009 - ReOrsa Artists Project No 4, 11 Crossway, Bracknell
2009 - Somewhere Else, Broadwalk Arts, Bristol
2009 - Somewhere Else, Broadwalk Arts, Broadwalk Shopping Centre, Knowle, Bristol
2009 - Summer Salon 09, Islington Arts Factory, London
2009 - Wish You Were Here?, The Firestation, Windsor
2008 - Hide and Seek, Blue Elephant Theatre, London
2008 - In Common, New Greenham Arts, Newbury
2008 - Locus, Fringe Arts Bath, Bath
2008 - Ode to Sartorial, Sartorial Contemporary Art, Notting Hill
2008 - The Great Purpose of Landscape Art , Mile End Park Arts Pavillion, London
2008 - Wrapped and encased in Liverpool, The Artists Book Fair, Liverpool Biennial, Wolstenholme Projects, Liverpool
2007 - Art at the Heart, Elmbridge Borough Council, Civic Centre, Esher, Surrey
2007 - Notting Heaven, Sartorial Contemporary Art, London
2007 - Word on the Street, Museum of Farnham, Farnham
2006 - Fine Art Degree Show 2006, Loughborough University School of Art and Design, Loughborough
Artist talks
2009 - “What would it mean to take part?”, 23:25 group, Goldsmiths University, London
2009 - Ideas Bank 2009, Slough Museum, Slough
2008 - Locus, Fringe Arts Bath, Bath
Competitions, prizes and awards
2006 - Painting 'Loughborough' Bought by Charnwood Borough Council (annual Charnwood Purchase Prize), Town Hall, Loughborough
Educational experience - primary
2011 - Creative Partnerships Project: "How can we tell our story", Ashmead Combined School, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Publications
2011 - Catalogue - "Jungle City Edinburgh 2011"
2010 - "Jumbo parade to protect elephant is capital" Bracknell Forest Standard
2010 - “Wish you were here” Bracknell Forest Standard
2010 - Catalogue - "Elephant Parade London"
2009 - "Freedom to Paint", Picture Business Magazine
2008 - “Opening up possibilities” Newbury Weekly News
2008 - Catalogue - "In Common"
2008 - Catalogue - "The Great Purpose"
2007 - The Rebel – Class issue
2006 - Catalogue - "Fine Art 06" LUSAD Degree Show
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