Gillian Lever

‘Moody and Muted’,  ART FIRST,  London

I am delighted that three recent oil paintings have been selected for ‘Moody and Muted’,  an exhibition at ART FIRST,  London 3-25 August 2023.

ART FIRST is celebrating its first year since opening the new gallery space in Lambeth with a contemplative Summer show.

The group exhibition includes fourteen artists: Joni Brenner, Teniqua Crawford, Marisol Jaquemot-Derode, Jake Harvey, Gillian Lever, Simon Lewty, Alex Lowery, Helen MacAlister, Will Maclean, Bridget Macdonald, Kate McCrickard, Simon Morley, Donald Teskey and Parou Zia.

There are paintings, drawings, assemblage work, sculpture, prints and ceramics, with prices ranging from £500 - £30,000

For further information about the artists and their work, please visit the gallery website www.artfirst.co.uk or email: info@artfirst.co.uk
Gallery hours: Wed - Fri 11am - 6pm, or at any other time by appointment.

Jake Lever 

Image Journal - Soul on Deck

Image Journal is an international forum for the best writing and artwork informed by a grappling with religious faith, based in the USA.  Dr Aaron Rosen, its Visual Arts Editor, invited me to reflect upon the last thirteen of my practice, exploring my ongoing engagement with the archetype of the boat.  

In this visual essay published in the current issue, I trace the development of this body of work through a series of site-specific installations and participatory projects. The essay is prefaced by some inspirational words written by Clarissa Pinkola Estes in her ‘Letter to a Young Activist During Troubled Times’.

“One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of the soul in shadowy times like these - to be fierce and to show mercy toward others; both are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity.”

You can read the essay here.