• John Uzzell Edwards
  

  The Welsh painter, John Uzzell Edwards, is thrilled to have been chosen to represent Wales at the world-famous Interceltic Festival in L’Orient, Brittany. His vibrant six-foot canvases are sure to make a big impact on the 650,000 visitors that flood the busy maritime town every August, because they are closely linked to John’s roots and heritage, a cause well understood by the often marginalised Bretons. These very new works are based on nineteenth century Welsh quilts and blankets, and are a riot of colour, pattern, print and added collage:

  ‘As a child in the mining village of Deri, I had Welsh quilts and blankets on my bed, but it is only lately that I have discovered Log Cabin quilts and I have been amazed by the intricacy of the design. And some of the very old quilts made from scraps have bold, very modern designs. Some are even like a Jackson Pollock or a Mark Rothko painting. Most museums keep them in dark places, but they demand to be seen, and this has given such a purpose and energy to my work. When I paint, I don’t copy them, but my inspiration comes from the patterns, materials, meanderings and rhythms.’

  John’s son, Charles, who uses the moniker ‘Pure Evil’, is a street artist, and runs his own lively gallery in London’s Shoreditch. He came back from exhibiting his work in Beijing, to be part of the infamous ‘Cans’ graffiti show under Waterloo Station which took London by storm. When asked if he wanted to march with his proud flag-carrying father in the Grand Parade of the Celtic nations in L’Orient, his excuse was that he had an exhibition in Beirut!

  The Festival at L’Orient runs from August 1st to the 10th. John will exhibit with Iwan Bala at the Welsh Salon d’Art which is being sponsored by The Arts Council of Wales, Wales Arts International, the Welsh Assembly Government and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

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• Click here to see a video of the NEW show....

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  Curriculum Vitae

  
  
• 1937 Born Deri, Rhymney Valley, South Wales.
• 1965-66 Awarded Granada Arts Fellowship at York University.
• 1966 Exhibition at York Festival and three London shows.
• 1968-69 Awarded Prix de Rome at British School, Rome.
  Awarded Leverhulme European
  Research Fellowship.
  Three exhibitions in Germany.
  Two London one-man shows.
• 1970-80 Exhibitions in Wales, Germany and France (UNESCO Travelling Show)
  Twice First Prize Winner of Main Painting Competition at National Eisteddfod of Wales.
  Featured H.T.V. and B.B.C. Television arts programmes.
  Artist in Residence, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.
• 1980-90 Artist in Residence, The Cross, Pontardawe.
  Made Honorary Member of York University.
• 1993-4 Exhibitions in London, York, France.
• 1995 TV Film BBC2 'Conflicting Images' - 40 minutes, Three Welsh Artists, Terry Setch, Peter Prendergast and John Uzzell Edwards.
• 1996 Awarded Commission from Shakespeare Institute, Stratford upon Avon to paint a series of paintings for new library on Owain Glyndwr (Henry IV).
  Organised one-man show at Humphries Gallery, Nob Hill, San Francisco and helped organise Welsh Festival, March 1st.
• 1997 Featured on H.T.V. arts programme 'A Word in your Eye'.
  Commission from Robert McKee, Los Angeles.
  Commission from Beti George and David Parry Jones.
• 1998 London Contemporary Arts Exhibition, Riverside Studios.
  Invited to Arts Reception by H.M. The Queen at Windsor Castle.
  With Brendan Stuart Burns, formed new group of Contemporary painters - 'Ysbryd/Spirit Wales'.
• Oct 1998 First exhibition of ''Ysbrid/Spirit Wales' at Howard Gardens Gallery, Cardiff.
  Further commissions from Shakespeare Institute.
• 1999 'Welsh Contemporaries' London, Riverside Studios.
  Feb 1999 Work featured on S4C television arts programme.
  Oct 1999 B.B.C. Film on recent work called 'Painted Dragons' Exhibition at Theatre Clwyd, Wales.
• 2000 15 January to Oct 2000 - one-man show of recent paintings - The Millennium Exhibition at Tenby Museum.
  May 2000 Exhibition at National Museum and Gallery of Wales, cardiff called 'Painted Dragons'.
  Feb 2001Exhibiton at 1The Mall, London.
  May 2001 Exhibition of Ysbryd Group at the National Museum and Gallery of Wales, Cardiff.
  
• 2005 St Davids Cathedral, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, S.Wales May 21st - June 5th
• 2005 Hay and Wye Festival "Fragments of Manuscripts"Hay on Wye (Drill Hall) May 27th - June 5th
  
• Upcoming Exhibitions:
  
• 2006 Summer Museum of Modern Art Macynlleth
  

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