Former student Michelle Barratt has recently been selected to have her painting ‘UNIT COLOUR’ featured in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2021.
Michelle Barratt, a DS15 graduate from 2020, has been selected for the fine art section of the Summer Exhibition 2021 this year. The painting features as part of her March project Technical College, Barking. The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2021 features over 1,000 work selected by the coordinator Yinka Shonibare and a panel of artists under the theme of ‘Reclaiming Magic’.
The painting features a delicate, organised palette of colour architectural language, drawing heavily on creative currents in fine arts and philosophy to develop innovative techniques in the design of buildings.
Commenting on the painting, Professor Sean Griffiths, Michelle’s tutor and Professor of Architecture at the University of Westminster, said: “Given our studio's interest in the relationship between fine art and architecture, we are especially delighted that Michelle's work is to be exhibited in the painting section of the Royal Academy show. This establishes its quality as a painting in its own right.
“The picture is a brilliant example of Michelle's use of fine art methods in the development of her architectural project, that characterised her work during her time on the course. Using painting allowed Michelle to explore how colour can have a powerful impact on the design of a room and this painting in particular displays a sophisticated grasp of the relationship between the abstract and the figurative that is the hallmark of a talented designer and artist.”
Describing ‘UNIT COLOUR’, Michelle said: “The concept for the Institute accommodation project is to have a rich and robust architectural language running through the building defined by lines, colour and rigorous grids. The lines represent the detail in the building, such as door handles, pipes, drainage, window mullions, frames.
“Colour determines the spaces, and sits within the grids of the building, it also represents the individuals within the existing youth community. The grid divides the different usage in the building, from cores to the front and rear facade to the room layout and communal spaces but most importantly the grid becomes a layered network that works adjacent to the structure of the project.”
She added: “Being selected to exhibit at the Royal Academy Summer Show has given me great confidence to remain true in my style of design. Also, I’d like to give a special mention to Sean and Kester from DS15 for being wonderful tutors and helping me discover my style in design.”
Find out more about the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2021.
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