PRESTIGIOUS SUMMER EXHIBITION
Artist Michael Kirkbride was delighted when one of his paintings ‘Love’ was accepted for a prestigious exhibition in London – and was sold prior to the opening
The work of Lancashire born artist Michael Kirkbride BA (Hons) is currently being featured in the Royal Academy 250th Summer Exhibition in London.
Co-ordinated by Grayson Perry RA, the 250th Summer Exhibition is regarded as the biggest and boldest to date. The exhibition provides emerging and established artists with a unique platform to showcase their work. Famous as the world’s largest open submission show, each year it delivers a collection of art in all mediums. This year’s exhibition features work by David Hockney and Tracey Emin.
Originally from the former textile town of Trawden, Michael started an art degree foundation course in the 1960s but dropped out.
He eventually settled down and completed his art degree in 2003: “I made it one of the longest art degrees in education history! I didn’t attend the degree ceremony nor did I go to the year group photograph session but I sent a full size photo of my head on a stick and a friend held it up!”
Michael now works as an art teacher, running private art classes in Colne and Clitheroe but in the past has worked as a roofer, foundry man, a sales director and designer, an art restorer and mural painter.
Married for 27 years, at one time all seven of the couple’s children lived with them in a home that was two houses put together as one: “Being married has been the happiest time of my life. It was very crowded at one stage but there was never a dull moment!”
With their little dog called ‘Dog’ Michael and his wife now live in Earby: “It is a hidden gem and has a lovely walled garden, trees, a pond and a studio – perfect!”
Michael entered the Royal Academy 250th Summer Exhibition for the first time this year and his painting ‘Love’ sold prior to the exhibition opening to the public on 12th June.
“The painting started as a sketch in 2001, I painted it in 2003 and I have fiddled around with it for years since then. This year I modified the size to make it better proportioned.”
“It was actually Dawn my wife who entered the painting in the RA Summer Exhibition. I have never been any good at promoting my work and if it were up to me it would never have been entered! Still I am pleased with the outcome – I may enter again next year!”
Working in many mediums including acrylic, oil, pen and ink, pencil, pastel, watercolour and gouache, Michael also works in many genres from the copying of old masters to landscape and abstract.
“I adopt the medium and the genre to suit the ideas I have. My paintings are not all the same, I don’t like to stay in a comfort zone. There is no progress or learning without pushing the boundaries of one’s abilities, so I change what I do and the way I do it maybe three or four times in a year.”
As a creative artist, Michael has also written poetry and short stories in the past, and he admits that much of his art and writing is driven by his concern for others: “I feel distressed about the lives many have to live – the orphaned and disconnected, those in poverty, those being trafficked and exploited, abused and down-trodden who are oppressed with no future and no hope.”
“On the other hand the world is a beautiful place especially where we have left it to its own devices – these things I also think about and paint. The contrast between the two extremes doesn’t escape me.”
“As artists we are self-indulgent, making art to point up the ills of our modern lives, yet ironically, profiting from the very thing that creates those ills in the first place.”
“Still it’s what we do and I am pleased to have succeeded in getting one of my paintings in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.”
The Royal Academy 250th Summer Exhibition runs until 19th August 2018
michael.kirkbride@hotmail.com
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