°1954, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Lives and works in Antwerp, Belgium.
Perry Roberts shows with his ‘Rare earthworks’ a group of different minerals that, despite their name, are relatively numerous but difficult to find. Not the minerals themselves, but their birthplaces are rare. The elements have various uses and are essential for everyday modern life. The works are the result of a specific but unpredictable process, abstract in nature but complex in visual language.
Roberts' works have been on view in the M HKA Museum for Contemporary Art (Antwerp) and he was nominated by the David and Yuko Juda Art Foundation. His work can be found in the collection of M HKA and the Vlaamse Gemeenschap.
Perry Roberts is represented by Gallery Sofie Van de Velde.
www.perryroberts.com
Solo exhibitions
'Below / Beyond', Hverfisgallery, Reykjavik, IS
'Dus toch geen toeval, Perry Roberts & Dirk Vander Eecken', Kasteelstraat 1 8978 Watou, BE
‘The Seasons’ Selfridges ‘STATE OF THE ART’ commission, Birmingham, UK Neon text work commissioned for Werkhuis MINN, Antwerp, BE
'non finito', Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, Antwerp, BE
'Between Certainty and Doubt', Koraalberg Gallery Antwerpen, BE
'Transition', Ikon Gallery Birmingham, UK
'European City of Culture', Lille, BE 'Furniture', Argentaurum Gallery, Knokke, BE
'HERE', Kasteel van Leeuwergem, BE
'Between Here and There', Galerie Evelyne Canus, Basel, CH 'Between Here and There', Galerie Annie Gentils, Antwerp, BE
Galerie Conrads Dusseldorf, DE
Galerie Annie Gentils, Antwerp, BE Espace D'Art Contemporain, Demigny, FR Center for Contemporary Non-Objective Art, Brussels, BE 'Virus', Galliart , Antwerp, BE Studio A Otterndorf, Museum Gegenstandsfreier Kunst, Landkreis Cuxhaven, DE
Vera Munro Gallery, Hamburg, DE
Patrick De Brock Gallery, Knokke, Belgium Galerie Evelyne Canus, Nice, France
Slewe Gallery, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Stadtisches Museum Abteiberg, Mönchengladbach, DE Gallerie Conrads, Dusseldorf, DE
Gallerie Art -In, Nürenburg, DE
Patrick De Brock Gallery, Antwerp, BE
Laure Genillard Gallery, London, UK Vera Munro Gallery, Hamburg, DE
Laure Genillard Gallery, London, UK
Goldsmiths4 M.A. Project Space, London, UK
Group exhibitions
‘Lipstick and Gas Masks’, MHKA, Antwerp, BE ‘Over ritme, motief en ruimte’, Gallery Sofie Van De Velde, Antwerp, BE ‘Ticker Tape’ Botanicc, Antwerp, BE
'L'heure bleue', Gallery Sofie Van de Velde & PLUS-ONE Gallery, Antwerp, BE 'Dus Toch Geen Toeval’, Contemporary Art, Watou, BE
‘Looking at the World through Rose Coloured Glasses‘, Sofie van de Velde Gallery, Antwerp, BE ‘The Fight’ Figuration vs. Abstraction, Kunstgenerator, Geneva, CH
‘Malevolent Eldritch Shrieking’ Attercliffe, Sheffield, UK ‘Soft’ Antwerp Fashion Museum, Sofie van de Velde Gallery, BE ‘Bristol@Brixton’ San Mei Gallery, London, UK ’20 Years NICC-Jubilee exhibition’, Antwerp, BE
‘WordsWordsWords’, Sofie van de Velde Gallery, Antwerp, BE
Art Brussels, Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, Antwerp, BE ‘More Canvas Please’, Sofie van de Velde Gallery, Antwerp, BE
'Club Banger 1' UpDown Gallery, Ramsgate Kent, UK
'30/30 Image Archive Project', MINUS SPACE, Brooklyn, USA 'Look & Listen', Ancien Poudrerie, Saint-Chamas, FR 'About Town', Hippodrome Theatre / Ikon Gallery , Birmingham, UK
'Jo Delahaut-Hors Limites', Botanique, Brussels, BE 'Big Deal No.5', Cavendish square, London, UK
'The what and the how', Galerie Zandt, Eindhoven, NL Casa Argentaurum, Gent, BE 'If you’ve got nothing to say don’t say it here', Centre d’Art Contemporain, Antananarivo, Madagascar 'We are the Only Artists in the Village', Kultureel Transfusiecentrum Meerhout, BE 'If the Lion Could Talk, We wouldn’t Understand Him', Geukens en De Vil Gallery, Knokke, BE 'Future Memory', Archetype/Ampersand House, Brussels, BE 30/30 Image Archive Project, MOINS UN, Paris, FR
'Miniscule', Oblong gallery, London, UK 'Ten years Koraalberg', Koraalberg Gallery, Antwerp, BE Image Archive Project, PS Projectspace, Amsterdam, NL
'Hypersurface FX', Margini Contemporary Art, Massa, IT 'Jeugdzonde. Over opus één en opus min één’, LLS 387 Ruimte voor actuele Kunst, Antwerp, BE HEDAH, Kunstverein Maastricht, NL 'Timewarp', Centre Rhenan d`Art Contemporain Alsace (CRAC) Altkirch, Alsace, FR 'Paperview', John Jones gallery, London, UK 'Summer exhibition', Koraalberg Gallery, Antwerp, BE 'Something I Don’t Do', Flowers East Gallery, London, UK 'Setting the Pattern', Koraalberg Gallery, Antwerp, BE
'1968 – Architecture in Movement', Kunsthalle Wilhelmshaven, GE 'Designed by Artists', Gallery Z33, Hasselt, BE 'Fantasy' curated by Koen van den Broek, Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen, BE 'De Canvas Collectie', Musee de Beaux Arts, Brussels, BE 'Hypersurface Plus', Ovada, Oxford , UK 'Superstratum', Koraalberg Gallery, Antwerp 'Yo, Mo’ Modernism', Brussels Biennial Off Programme, CCNOA Brussels, BE 'Presque Rien 2', Laure Genillard Gallery, London, UK
'Retribution', Objectif exhibitions, Antwerp, BE 'A little bit o’white', CCNOA, Brussels, BE 'Drawing Cabinet', Koraalberg Gallery, Antwerp, BE 'Pop Up – 1', Wimmerplus, Munich, GE 'Abstract 2', Galerie Conrads, Berlin, GE 'Pas de Soucis', Non Objectif Sud, Tulette, Drome Provençale France, FR 'Pentimento', Koraalberg Gallery, Antwerp, BE 'To Be Political It Has To Look Nice', Annette De Keyser Gallery, Antwerp, BE 'Perry Roberts / Emilio Perez', Galerie Conrads, Dusseldorf, GE 'Und Jetzt', IS project space, Leiden, NL
'If it didn’t exist, you’d have to invent it', The Showroom Gallery, London, UK 'Outdoors', Daniel Arnaud Gallery, London, UK 'Seiben auf einen Streich', Museum fur Mobel, Kunst und Architektur, MARTa Herford, DE 'Wall paintings', Koraalberg Gallery, Antwerp, BE
'Fiesta’, Annie Gentils Gallery, Antwerp, Be
'De Tuin van Herman Teerlinckx', Herman Teerlinckx House, Beersel, Brussels, BE 'Over de Grens / Across the Border', Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens Deurle, BE 'Moltimultipli', CCNOa, Brussels, BE
'Sugar and Spice', Annie Gentils Gallery, Antwerp, BE 'Sense and Nonsense', Danielle Arnaud Gallery, London, UK
'Painting as a Foreign Language', Edificio Cultura Inglesa/Centro Brasileiro Britanico Sao Paulo, BR 'Das Befreite Nichts', Vera Munro Gallery, Hamburg, DE
'Veranderung', Neuerwerbungen der vergangenen 10 jahren Studio A Otterndorf, Museum Gegenstandsfreier Kunst Landkreis Cuxhaven, DE 'Ici et Maintenant / Hier & Nu', Espace 251 Nord entrepot Tour et Taxis, Brussel, BE
'Selections Winter 99, Paul Morrison, Perry Roberts, Richard Wright', The Drawing Center, New York, USA 'Trouble Spot Painting' Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen, BE
'Circuit', Bruges, BE 'Everyday', XIth. Biennale of Sydney, AUS
'Pia Fries, Olaf Christopher Jenssen, Perry Roberts', Galerie Conrads, Dusseldorf, DE 'Geometric Abstraction XVI', Konstructive Tendens, Stockholm, SE
'New Painting from the Arts Council Collection', Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, UK 'Summer Exhibition,' Patrick De Brock Gallery, Knokke, BE 'Projecten: Paul-Armand Gette, Cecile Bart, Jacques Vielle, Perry Roberts, Ghislaine Portalis, Filip Francis, Luc Deleu, David Claerbouts', Galerie Montevideo, Antwerpen, BE 'A Sculptors Choice, Works Selected by Anne Christopher R.A.', Royal Academy of Arts, Picadilly, London, UK
'Fabre-Rationalitat und Emotion: Douglas Allsop, Heinrich Dunst, James Hyde, Perry Roberts, Winston Roeth, Marthe Wery', Gallerie Art-In, Nurenburg, DE
'Landescapes', Ex Lanificio Bona, Carigiano, IT 'Paper Works', Vera Munro Gallery, Hamburg, DE Patrick De Brock Gallery, Knokke, BE 'Auf Papier: Monika Brandmeier, Marcia Hafif, Perry Roberts, Fred Sandback', Galerie Conrads, Dusseldorf, DE 'Summer Exhibition', Patrick De Brock Gallery, Knokke, BE Todd Gallery, London, UK
Galerie Nachst St. Stephan, Vienna, AT Burnett Miller Gallery, Los Angeles, USA 'Moving into View: Recent British Painting', South Bank Center, Royal Festival Hall, London, UK Touring Exhibition - New Painting from the Arts Council Collection, Darlington Arts Center, Chapter Arts Center Cardiff, Oriel Gallery, Clwyed Wales, Newlyn Orion Gallery Penzance, University of Northumbria Newcastle upon Tyne, Norfolk Institute of Art and Design Norwich, The Drumcoon Wigan, UK
'Abstract Painting, Between Analysis and Synthesis', Gallery Nachst St. Stephan, Vienna, AT 'Brit Art', Kunsthaus Glarus, CH 'With Attitude', Galerie Etiennne Tilman, Brussels, BE Galerie Conrads, Dusseldorf, DE
Bath Festival Exhibition, Bath, UK 'PAC Archive Project', Centre D'Art Contemporain, Nevers, FR 'Place For Art', The Showroom Gallery, London, UK 'Perry Roberts, Craig Wood', Third Eye Center, Glasgow, UK 'Present Continuous', Chisenhale Gallery, London, UK
'Six British Artists', Rijksacademie Van Beelden Kunsten, Amsterdam, NL 'Minimal Means', The Showroom Gallery, London, UK John Hansard Gallery, Southhampton, UK 'Summer Exhibition', Laure Genillard Gallery, London, UK
'Homage to the Square', Flaxman Gallery, London, UK
'Beyond Appearance', Hampshire County Museum Services, Touring Exhibition
'London Group', Royal College of Art, London,UK '100 Artists', The Showroom Gallery, London, UK
'Whitechapel Open Exhibition', Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, UK
'Works on Paper', Aspects Gallery, Portsmouth, UK
'London Group', South London Art Gallery, London, UK
'British Contemporary Drawing', Marlborough Gallery, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK
Royal West Of England Academy, Bristol, UK
'Drawings', Laure Genillard Gallery, London. 'Reihung 2', Vera Munro Gallery, Hamburg. Summer Show, Laure Genillard Gallery, London. Philip van Isaaker; Willem Cole,Marlou van Brakel, Richard Venlet, Gladstone Thomson, David Tremlett, Perry Roberts. Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle, Belgium
Perry Roberts Neon text work commissioned for Werkhuis MINN Antwerp 2019
Perry Roberts Untitled, 2018 Linen, canvas, gesso, acrylic 40 x 30 cm
Perry Roberts Untitled, 2017 Linen, canvas, gesso, acrylic 80 x 60 cm
Perry Roberts Kingscliff, 2010 oil on paper, 200 x 150 cm
Perry Roberts neodymium, 2009 Oil on paper 180 x 150 cm
Perry Roberts cerium, 2010 Oil on paper 180 x 150 cm
Perry Roberts, 24 hr painting, 2001 Acrylics on canvas 200 x 100 cm
Perry Roberts 24hr painting, 1997 Acrylics on canvas 120 x 120 cm
PERRY ROBERTS “non finito”
Perry Roberts isn’t finished – especially with his own oeuvre. In his latest exhibition at Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, he confronts his own artistic past. Though he comes from a post- minimalist tradition, Roberts today employs a rather different voice.
‘Non finito’ is a Renaissance-era concept: leaving paintings and sculptures unfinished results in a highly specific aesthetic. Roberts re-interprets this technique and makes it his own. Left with a certain amount of discarded fabrics after renovating some earlier works, an idea took shape which he gradually developed into the highly singular technique of cutting strips and scraps from different materials, and combining them, first by glueing on small scale, then later by sewing. In this way he reacquainted himself with the aesthetic qualities of the linens, and canvas. Carefully fixed to each other and processed with a variety of paint and colour types, they complement each other literally and figuratively speaking.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Roberts' works mark a departure from the post-minimalist tradition both in shape and in colour. A recurring motif across most of his new works, the diagonal forges a subtle break with the movement's uncompromising, hard-edged rectangles. Roberts exchanges this strict, straight line for a slightly tilted movement that nonetheless does not dominate the work. The diagonal line also draws viewers closer; especially in combination with the natural materials and sombre colours, the presentation is grounded and appeals to viewers with an eye for detail.
Black and white aren't 'real' colours and they are often omitted in minimalism and post-minimalism. As an artist with an inquisitive mind however, Roberts enjoys exploring every gradation of white and every depth of black. The artist avoids dominant emotions with this sober colour palette. His aesthetically accessible works do not give up their secrets readily; they maintain a poetic aura and a certain amount of mystery. Moreover, room is left for ‘mistakes'. Irregularities at the level of colour or material lend the work its authenticity. By sewing together pieces of different materials, he also adds a craft-like quality, a human touch that breaks with the detachment of minimalism and post- minimalism.
What characterises the art of painting? Not all the new works contain paint – this is Roberts' way of questioning the fundamentals of painting. He looks beyond the surface and investigates the DNA of the canvas at a more profound level; he unveils the underlying structures of the painting tradition. The empty canvas, as the basic condition for conventional painting, is ignored and replaced with a new, constructed structure. Out of a 'non-canvas' with 'non-colours', Perry Roberts fashions an 'un-finished' painting.