Victoria Mardon British, b. 1978
Victoria Mardon is an emerging abstract artist living and working in Exeter, Devon. Using acrylic on canvas, she creates precise and complex chromatic, hard-edged, geometrical paintings. Mardon studied Graphic Design at Bath Spa University and graduated in 2000. Although never following a career in Graphic Design, the experience shaped her style of painting. Op Art, Minimalism, Colour Field Painting and Colour Theory are strong influences in Mardon's practice. Together with artists Bridget Riley, Josef Albers, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Anni Albers and Sarah Morris. Her work was recently selected to exhibit in the Evolver group exhibition at the Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton, and the Abstraction Here and Now group exhibition at the Awesome Art Space, Exeter. She also had paintings shortlisted for the Jacksons Painting Prize and selected for the RWA Open Exhibition.
Victoria Mardon's Debut Show will be at our Walton Street Gallery from Friday 21st May - 18th June. You can view details here and register your interest here.
Education
2000 BA (Hons) Graphic Design, Bath Spa University
2001 A Level Fine Art, Exeter College
2009 Member of Patrick Jones’s Abstract Art Group, Exeter
2018-2020 Member of Patrick Jones's Abstract Art Group, Exeter
SHOWS
2019 Evolver. Group Exhibition, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton.
2019 Abstraction Here & Now. Group Exhibition, Exeter.
2019 Selected for RWA Open. RWA Bristol.
2020 Shortlisted for Jackson's Art Prize.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
I see my paintings as experiments; explorations into how colours and forms can create the feeling of light, depth, layering and movement. The concepts for my work come from my interest in Op Art, Geometric Patterns and Colour Theory. Ideas and curiosities that arise from my previous paintings also inspire my practice. I design the composition for my work using drawing software. Having studied Graphic Design at University using software is a natural and accurate way to achieve and refine my ideas. I then meticulously draw my design onto the canvas. My practice is very systematic. I premix and refine all my paint colours; this allows me the opportunity to study how the colours work together before painting. I achieve the crisp, precise edges - which are crucial to my style of work - by careful masking with tape. The finish needs to be as flawless as possible to prevent distraction from the composition and colours.
I like my paintings to be intriguing and disconcerting, encouraging the viewer to pause to decipher them.
