Reflecting on The Year
With the year coming to a close, we thought it would be a good time to reflect on some of the highlights of 2022 at Queen Street Gallery. From the get-go, we’ve always been a small gallery with big ambitions, and we’re proud of the many milestones that have been crossed in this past year. From open competitions and street life expeditions to solo shows and collaborative debuts, we’ve seen a remarkable number of artists passing through the gallery over the past twelve months. Solo exhibitions included Graham Parker’s Beyond the Horizon, Maria Pierdes’ Silence of Sound and Kate Bell’s Lamp and The Veil.
We were honoured to host debut artists Steve Evans, Jane Harrison and, not forgetting, Roy Thomas, whose work is still on display in the Christmas show over in Studio 40. Roy continues to bring in new paintings every day, and is exploring a number of different scenic themes. He’s also been branching into photography, snapping up the sunsets of Swansea Bay, Aberavon and Neath Canal.
Our Young Artists competition gave a platform to junior creatives from the local area. Lily Williams, who won first prize, has gone on to excel in her creative practice at school, and is looking to take on the subject in higher education.
The Move
With a host of problems relating to the premises of the property, Queen Street Gallery has officially moved premises to Studio 40, Queen Street, Neath. We’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who helped out with the move. We apologise if emails haven’t been responded to immediately, it's been a question of all hands on deck over the last month or so. With no access to WiFi and a looming deadline, our priority has been finding new space for the numerous artworks we’re responsible for.
Extensions to Competitions and Exhibitions
Due to unforeseen circumstances, both the Young Artists Competition and Open 23 have had their exhibition dates moved. The Young Artists Competition will be exhibiting from February 5th 2023, with an opening on the same day from 2-4 pm, when the prizes are given.
Open 23 has had its deadline extended until January 31st, giving everyone more time to send their submissions in. The final exhibition for Open 23 will take place during March of 2023, with an opening on the 5th of March. Featured alongside this year's submissions will be a solo exhibition Leasley Dearn, winner of Open 22.
Covid Chronicle
Having toured across the UK, the Covid Chronicle is coming to Neath. This exhibition is a unique record of the experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic, documented using square panels of stitched fabric. The project, initiated by Wendy Bliss, began as a call out to artists to capture the collective reality of this challenging moment in history. As it developed, the collective defiance of the project struck a chord on a global scale, and went on to attract the talents of creatives from 15 different countries.
Once the tour has concluded, the collection has found a permanent home in the modernised interior of Chelsea and Westminster hospital. Before it makes its way back to London, you’ll have the chance to visit this exceptional exhibition on your doorstep. Entry is free, and there’s an array of great cafes to grab a coffee from while you're in Neath.