Ruth Wallace
Most of my work focuses either on the figure, or intimations of it, or on empty interiors. It explores the borderland between absence and presence and between the familiar and the strange and addresses themes of memory and traces. I often return to motifs of women's clothing and wallpaper to suggest both a domestic context and vestiges and echoes of people who are no longer present. I am interested in the sense of the walls of empty homes holding narratives and presences within them.
Qualifications
MA Fine Art (Research), University of the West of England, Bristol (2007)
BA Visual Communication (Illustration), Bath Academy of Art, Corsham, Wiltshire (1982)
Group exhibitions
2025
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Drawing Prize, RBSA Gallery, Birmingham
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
2024
Bath Society of Artists Annual Open Exhibition, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath
Drawing School Showcase (Exhibition of Tutors' work), Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Secret Postcard Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
2023
Staff Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
170 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Bath Society of Artists Annual Open Exhibition, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath
Pound Arts Open, Pound Arts Centre, Corsham, Wiltshire
Secret Postcard Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2022
169 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Bath Open Art Prize, 44AD Artspace, Bath
Millfield Open, Atkinson Gallery, Millfield School, Street, Somerset
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
Unreal Estates, https://www.unreal-estates.org/property/viewing-instructions/
2021
Society of Graphic Fine Art Annual Open Exhibition, The Mall Galleries, London
South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts, Kennaway House, Sidmouth, Devon
Unreal Estates, online from 3 November 2021
Broadway Arts Festival Exhibition, Theatrebarn, Bretforton
Spring Open Exhibition, The Absent Gallery, online
Merge, 44AD Artspace, Bath, online
2020
Reflections 2020, South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts - Winner of Pegasus Arts Award for Best Mixed Media
Society of Women Artists Annual Open Exhibition, online
Bath Society of Artists, Victoria Art Gallery, online
Broadway Arts Festival Exhibition, Little Buckland Gallery, online
Secret Postcard Exhibition and Auction, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2019
167 Autumn Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
This Woman's Work, Fringe Arts Bath Festival
Bath Society of Artists Annual Exhibition, Victoria Gallery, Bath
BV Open Studios, Bristol
2018
166 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Light and Shade, Christmas Steps Gallery, Bristol
Broadway Arts Festival Exhibition, Little Buckland Gallery, Worcs
Two-Faced, Cedar's Hall and Heritage Courtyard Gallery, Wells
Secret Postcard Exhibition and Auction, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
Bath Society of Artists Annual Open Exhibition, Victoria Gallery, Bath
2017
Secret Postcard Exhibition and Auction, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Contemporary Art Open, CICCIC, Taunton - First Prize Winner
2016
164 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy - People's Choice Award Winner
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
Pay and Display, Centrespace, Bristol
2015
Drawing from the Archive, Hatch Drawing Group, Royal West of England Academy
Secret Postcard Exhibition and Auction, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Imagined Postcards, Drawn 2015, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
2014
162 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Draw 14, Society for Graphic Fine Art Annual Open Exhibition, Menier Gallery, London
BV Studios Group Show, Sidcot Galleries, Sidcot, North Somerset
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
Hampstead Affordable Art Fair (Bowlish Gallery)
2013
161 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
The Femail Project, ARTicle Gallery, School of Art, Birmingham City University
Hampstead Affordable Art Fair (Bowlish Gallery)
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
Drawn, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2012
160 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Wells Art Contemporary Open, Wells and Mendip Museum, Somerset
Wunderland II, TactileBOSCH Gallery, Cardiff
New Visions, Grant Bradley Gallery, Bristol
2011
HerStory by Women’s Work, The Link Gallery, University of Winchester
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
2010
Art in Action, Waterperry House, Oxfordshire (invited artist demonstrator)
Smoke, Black Swan Gallery, Frome
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
2009
157 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Affordable Art Fair, Amsterdam (Cube Gallery)
Bristol Affordable Art Fair (Cube Gallery)
Wessex and West Country Women Artists, Bowlish Gallery, Shepton Mallet
Chelsea Art Fair, London (Cube Gallery)
Drawing Room II, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2008
Drawing Interiors: Ruth Wallace and Fran Richardson, Bristol Drawing School, Bristol
156 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
King-sized, Centrespace, Bristol
2017
Secret Postcard Exhibition and Auction, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Contemporary Art Open, CICCIC, Taunton - First Prize Winner
2016
164 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy - People's Choice Award Winner
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
Pay and Display, Centrespace, Bristol
2015
Drawing from the Archive, Hatch Drawing Group, Royal West of England Academy
Secret Postcard Exhibition and Auction, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Imagined Postcards, Drawn 2015, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
2014
162 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Draw 14, Society for Graphic Fine Art Annual Open Exhibition, Menier Gallery, London
BV Studios Group Show, Sidcot Galleries, Sidcot, North Somerset
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
Hampstead Affordable Art Fair (Bowlish Gallery)
2013
161 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
The Femail Project, ARTicle Gallery, School of Art, Birmingham City University
Hampstead Affordable Art Fair (Bowlish Gallery)
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
Drawn, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2012
160 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Wells Art Contemporary Open, Wells and Mendip Museum, Somerset
Wunderland II, TactileBOSCH Gallery, Cardiff
New Visions, Grant Bradley Gallery, Bristol
2011
HerStory by Women’s Work, The Link Gallery, University of Winchester
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
2010
Art in Action, Waterperry House, Oxfordshire (invited artist demonstrator)
Smoke, Black Swan Gallery, Frome
Open Studios, BV Studios, Bristol
2009
157 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Affordable Art Fair, Amsterdam (Cube Gallery)
Bristol Affordable Art Fair (Cube Gallery)
Wessex and West Country Women Artists, Bowlish Gallery, Shepton Mallet
Chelsea Art Fair, London (Cube Gallery)
Drawing Room II, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2008
Drawing Interiors: Ruth Wallace and Fran Richardson, Bristol Drawing School, Bristol
156 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
King-sized, Centrespace, Bristol
Teaching
2008 till present - Drawing classes and workshops, Royal West of England Academy Drawing School, Bristol
Helping Artists Keep Going
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