'One of the delicious experiences in painting is the independence of the hand from the brain. My hand makes its way across the canvas surface dispensing paint via the instrument of the brush, exploring different ideas through subtle variations of pressure and speed. From this emerge curious phantom forms that connect to deep-seated forms within us all.'
Stewart Geddes is a Bristol-based abstract painter. His current practice involves painterly improvisations in which colour is both the means and the subject of the work. Most recently he has collaborated with Philip Selway of Radiohead, where his work formed a dialogue with Selway’s evolving album Strange Dance (2023).
Geddes trained at the Royal College of Art, gaining an MPhil in 2007 under the tutelage of John Stezaker and Martina Margett. He was Head of Painting at Cardiff School of Art and Design until 2010, and has been an Associate Lecturer in Fine Art at a number of art schools including, most recently, the Arts University Bournemouth and Cheltenham College of Art (University of Gloucestershire).
Geddes was President of the RWA between 2016 and 2019 and is an Honorary Royal Scottish Academician. In 2019, he curated ‘Albert Irvin and Abstract Expressionism’ in conjunction with the Albert Irvin Estate and Tate Gallery at the RWA. The exhibition looked at the impact of the Tate’s 1959 exhibition ‘The New American Painting’ and Albert Irvin’s subsequent conversion to abstraction. As well as being the first full retrospective of Irvin’s work, the exhibition included paintings by Jackson Pollock, Willem De Kooning, Barnett Newman, Sandra Blow and Gillian Ayers.
EXHIBITIONS
'Strange Dance', Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, (2023)
'Strange Dance', TIN MAN ART, London (2023)
'Volta Basel', Blond Contemporary (UK), Invited artist by Alison Bevan ,Basel (2022)
'The Discerning Eye', The Mall Galleries, London (2022)
Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy (RSA), (2022)
'Un-Seeking the Captive', Andelli Art, Wells, (solo, 2021)
'The Discerning Eye', The Mall Galleries, London (2021)
Main Prize Winner, Bath Society of Artists Annual Open Exhibition, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath (2021)
Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London (2021)
Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy (RSA), Edinburgh (2021)
Brownsword Hepworth, London (2020)
Bath Society of Artists Annual Open, Victoria Gallery, Bath (2020)
Twenty Twenty Gallery, Ludlow, Shropshire (2020)
'Vibrancy: A Celebration of Colour in Contemporary British Art', Brownsword Hepworth, London (2019)
‘Stewart Geddes’, Andelli Art, Wells (solo, 2019)
Bath Arts Society Annual Exhibition, Victoria Gallery, Bath (2019)
Academicians’ Show, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh (2019)
Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London (2019)
Albert Irvin and Abstract Expressionism’ , RWA, Bristol (2018)
‘Wine Gums and Rock’, That Art Gallery, Bristol (solo, 2018)
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London (2018)
‘Pavilion of Paintings’, Fringe Arts Bath (2018)
'Material Evidence', Atkinson Gallery, Millfield School (solo, 2017)
Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London (2017)
RSA Open Exhibition 2017, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh (2017)
Academicians’ Show, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh (2017)
Proyecto Medellin, Mexico City (2017)
British Council Exhibition, Metro Polanco, Mexico City (2016)
'And ings', Noho Studios, London (2016)
Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London (2016)
Galeria Cuatrosiete, Oaxaca, Mexico, (2016)
'Material Fact', two-person show with Deborah Westmancoat, Studio 1.1, London (2016)
'Unusual Materials and Collage', Chelsea Arts Club, London (2016)
‘Dream Visions’, Sladers Yard, West Bay, Dorset (2016)
Arte Mexico: Contemporary British Art Auction 2015 – Morton Casa de Subastas, Mexico City (2016)
‘Drawn In’; Bristol University (RWA), Bristol (2016)
‘Zed Alley’, Campden Gallery, Chipping Campden (solo, 2016)
Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London (2016)
Bankley Open, Bankley Gallery, Manchester (2016)
‘Birminham and Beyond’, RBSA Galleries, Birmingham
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (2014, 2013)
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
UK Parliamentary Art Collection (House of Commons); Landmark PLC;
Brookfield Asset Management; The Royal Collection; Cardiff School of
Management, Cardiff Metropolitan University; Royal College of Art Collection.
EDUCATION
2007 MPhil, Royal College of Art
2009 Fellowship, Higher Education Academy
1997 MA, City University, London
1983 BA(Hons), Bristol Polytechnic (UWE)