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Etsuko Montgomery

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Etsuko Montgomery – painter and print-maker

Etsuko Montgomery is a British-trained and London-based painter and print-maker whose distinctive fusion of East and West art practice is the result of both lengthy acquisition of technical skills and experimental development. The print-making and painting cross-influence each other.

In both her painting and printmaking, Etsuko often uses Japanese calligraphy as part of mark-making but without the necessary intention that it will be read. However, some of the characters which she uses are legible ancient Japanese Iroha.

Floating such calligraphic marking upon canvas, board and paper comes naturally to Etsuko from the traditional Japanese absorption in the high-art aesthetics of calligraphy. Equally her emphasis upon the limited palette can be seen from the perspective of traditional descent.

However – and distinctively so – Etsuko’s keen academic interest in the works of the American abstract expressionists is immediately apparent in her fascination with fluid and layering effects and turning calligraphy into graffiti. This tendency towards semi-abstraction therefore sees the work breaking free from rigid formalities within traditional Japanese design although these are usually residually referenced.

My painting and print-making can be described as occupying ground between figuration and abstraction.  I often use elements such as calligraphy, letters and numbers in an effect which links to my personal emotions and memories, spiritual experience and Japanese culture. My paintings and prints are a kind of representation of an aura of both spiritual and natural landscapes. I am particularly interested in the possibilities of the limited palette for expressing subtle colours and emotions.

Etsuko Montgomery

Born in Osaka Japan, now living and working in London

Art Education

2001 – 2002 Camberwell College of Art, MA in Printing

1997 – 2000 City & Guilds Art School, BA Hons 1st Class, Fine Art

1995 – 1997 South Thames College, Diploma in Fine Art

Selected / Recent Exhibitions

2016 Shows in New York and Hong Kong, Fine Art

     Consultancy

2015 Spring Show – Highgate Contemporary Art

2015 Shows in New York and Hong Kong , Fine Art  

     Consultancy

2013 Group Show – Flowers – Store St Gallery, Bloomsbury.

2013 Two Person Show at Highgate Contemporary Art

2010   Royal Academy of Arts, London, Summer Exhibition

            Originals ’10 Contemporary Printmaking Show Mall   

     Gallery, London

2009   Connect Two, Smithfield Gallery, London, sponsored

     by Embassy of Japan: Japan/UK 150

2009/8/7       Art London, Chelsea Royal Hospital with Fine 

          Art Consultancy

2008/9Floating Odyssey Group Show, London, Tokyo, Seoul

2007/6/3/ Demonstrator and exhibitor, Art in Action,

          Oxfordshire

2007    Modern Works on Paper, Royal Academy, London

2005      Chichester Open Art Exhibition, Hampshire

2004      The Sheridan Russell Gallery, London W1

        Originals, ’04 Contemporary Printmaking Show Mall

        Gallery, London

2003    Gallery Omotesando, Tokyo – solo show                     

2002    The Hunting Art Prize, Royal College of Art

        RK Burt Gallery, Southwark, London                     

2001      The Discerning Eye, Mall Gallery, London

        British Art Now, ‘The Japanese Way’, South

        Moulton Lane, London

2000    The Hunting Art Prize, Royal Collegeof Art, 

        London

               The Contemporary Print Show, Barbican Centre,

        London

                       

Awards

2000               Print-making Prize, City & Guilds School of

          Art, London

1999      Daley Rowney Student Showcase, Third Prize

                        Philip ConnardTravel Award, City & Guilds Art

          School, London

Barclaycard Drawing Award, Second Prize, Northampton University

 

Publications

May, 2007          Celeste Art Prize, painting “And So We  

               Rise” selected for catalogue

April, 2004    Front cover, Risk magazine

July, 2002     Art World magazine, (Korea)

 

Work in Public Collections

British Museum, Print Collection

Dept for Education and Employment

The Sheridan Russell Gallery