Jan Gaska
I am an English born artist of Polish descent. I finished my Fine Art degree in 1997 at Surrey Institute of Art & Design, specializing in printmaking. I went on to do a Masters in Printmaking & Illustration in 2000 at (then) Bucks Chilterns University (now called Bucks New University), finishing in 2003. In 2004 I started a 2 year printmaking residency at South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell. I taught adult printmaking classes & kids’ workshops, as well special needs. My end of residency exhibition (‘Collective Nature’) was my first major solo exhibition at the Bracknell Gallery SHP. After my residency I worked as a gallery technician for South Hill Park, giving me the opportunity to work with different artists and gain an insight in their diverse practices, also giving me an understanding of myself as an artist & my place within the contemporary visual arts. I am currently a gallery technician for the New Ashgate Gallery. I am initially a printmaker working in etching, engraving, and relief printing, but have turned to painting in recent years. My work is figurative, realist in nature. I’m moved to create images that draw on social commentary taken from the fleeting glimpses of life that is constantly on the move around me. I record people in passing as a snapshot of the moment before it changes. I wish my work to invoke a story personal to viewer suggested through an open ended narrative. I use digitally manipulated photography as a starting point & as a reference. I am attracted to psychological characteristics within a photograph, of figures & how they relate with their environment, which sometimes seems to echo, enhance or contrast their inner states, & give a fixed sense of time & place. My recent paintings are of a more personal nature & depicting my family & snapshots of childhood. My work is informed by the likes of Edward Hopper, Carel Weight, Andrew Wyeth, Kathe Kollwitz, Goya & Hogarth to name a few.
Website:
Education
2000 - 2003 ma Illustration & printmaking, BCUC (BUCKS NEW UNI.)Self-initiated postgraduate study achieving a distinction |
1994 - 1997 Ba Hons. Fine Art, SURREY INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGNSpecializing in printmaking achieving a 2:2
2016 - 2017 DRAWING SCHOLARSHIP- NEW ENGLISH ART CLUB (LONDON) Drawing workshops and studio visit with prestigious artists who are members of the NEAC art society based at the Mall Galleries. |
EXPERIENCE
2023 - CURRENT Seasons art classes teacher – Gerards Cross, Chorleywood & Berkhamsted Teaching a set art curriculum to 4 classes of mature students 2022 – CURRENT EXAM INVIGILATOR- GREAT MARLOW SCHOOL, MARLOW Supporting the exams officer invigilating exams throughout the year.
2013 – current gallery technician- New ASHGATE GALLERY, FARNHAMResponsible for installation of all wall-based artworks.
2022 – 2024 Freelance Creative minds artist- South BUCKS AREAProviding therapeutic art sessions to care homes and other healthcare and social setting. Creative minds are a community of artists, organization and social enterprise. |
2007 – 2022 LIBRARY ASSISTANT- BUCKS NEW UNIVERSITY, HIGH WYCOMBE Front facing support for students, problem solving, customer care. ‘Preparation for Teaching in Higher Education’ - Higher Education Academy (HEA) Associate Fellowship
2005 – 2010 GALLERY TECHNICIAN- SOUTH HILL PARK ARTS CENTRE, BRACKNELL Responsible for all aspects of art installation.
2004 – 2006 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE-, SOUTH HILL PARK ARTS CENTRE, BRACKNELL I ran 2 adult classes on weekdays with weekend workshops for adults and children, culminating with a large solo show of my work produced during the residency.
2005 – 2006 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE/TEACHER- ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION NORTHBROOK PRU, SLOUGH 1-year contract teaching a small group of 14-year-old children towards their GCSE art. |
exhibitions
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 - ‘10 days in North Kent & other paintings’ York treet Gallery, Ramsgate, CT11 9DS
2021 – ‘Returning with a New Approach’ South Hill Park, Bracknell RG12 7PA
2016 - Untitled, Ripley Arts Centre, Bromley. BR1 2PX
2007 - Untitled, The Maltings, Farnham, Surrey.
2006 - ‘Collective Nature’, South Hill Park, Bracknell RG12 7PA
2005 - ‘New Print Works’, Freud Bar/Gallery, London. WC2H 8JL
2005 - 'A Sense of Place’, South Hill Park, Bracknell RG12 7PA
2005 - 'Prints 2000-2005', Hilton Hotel, Bracknell, RG12 7PA
2004 - ‘Urban Narratives’, Lauderdale House, London N6 5HG
2004 - Urban Narratives, Stables Gallery, London NW2 6HT
2004 - 'Urban Narratives', Black Swan Arts, Frome BA11 1BB
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 - Bucks Art Society Spring Exhibition, The Fitzwilliams Centre, Beaconsfield, HP9 2JW
2023 – ‘Artists at the Museum’ River & Rowing Museum, Henley on Thames, RG9 1BF
2022 – ‘Portrait and Landscape of Lane End’ Holy Trinity Church, Lane End, HP14 3HD
2022 – ‘Bucks Art Weeks’ Wycombe Arts Centre, HP11 2PU
2021 - 'Land-Marks', Wycombe Arts Centre, High Wycombe, HP11 2PU
2021 - ‘Bucks Art Society’s 100th celebratory exhibition’ Bucks County Museum HP20 2QP
2020 - ‘Lockdown – the Exhibition’, Wycombe Arts Centre, High Wycombe HP11 2PU
2020 - ‘Bicester Art Exhibition’, Cinch Storage - Bicester, OX26 4SU
2020 - ‘Painting Farnham’, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham GU9 7PS
2019 - ‘Around here, now & then’ - Wycombe Arts Centre, High Wycombe HP11 2PU
2019 - ‘The People’s Landscape’, Claydon House, Middle Claydon, MK18 2EX
2019 - ‘Jan Gaska - Recent Paintings’ Belle Vue Pub, High Wycombe HP11 2PU
2018 - ‘Remind Me to Remember’ Open Hand Open Space, Reading RG30 1HL
2018 - ‘New English Art club Annual Exhibition’, The Mall Galleries, London. SW1
2017 - ‘New English Art Club Annual Exhibition’, The Mall Galleries, London. SW1
2017 – ‘Views of Farnham’, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham GU9 7PS
2016 - ‘Autumn Collection’, Obsidian Art, Stoke Mandeville, Bucks HP22 5XJ
2016 - 'Regeneration', Murmurations Art Gallery, Bexhill TN40 1DE
2013 - '3 Contemporaries', The Cloisters, SJE Arts, Oxford. OX4 1EH.
2013 - 'Artists in Residence Retrospective', South Hill Park, Bracknell RG12 7PA
2011 - 'Rudolf Steiner School Contemporary Art Fair', Rudolf Steiner School, Kings Langley
2008 - 'Landscape Returned and Reconsidered', South Hill Park, Bracknell RG12 7PA
2007 - ‘Originals 07’, The Mall Galleries, London. SW1
2007 - 'Wrexham Print International Biennale', Wrexham Arts Centre, Wrexham. LL11 1AU
2004 - ‘Discerning Eye’, The Mall Galleries, London. SW1
2004 - ‘Graduate Show’, Jelly Leg’d Chicken Art Centre, Reading. RG1 2AG
2004 - ‘Islington Contemporary Art & Design Fair’, Candid Arts Trust, London. EC1V 1NQ
2003 - ‘Fresh Art’, Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1
2003 - ‘Society of Graphic Fine Arts 82nd Annual Open Exhibition’, Hotbath Gallery, Bath
