Gillian Ayres (1930 - 2018) was an influential English painter renowned for her large, vividly colored abstract works and prints, characterized by thick layers of pigment that draw from diverse styles and movements. 

Ayres viewed abstract painting as a vital language reflecting the energy of the 20th century and its evolving relationship with nature and society. Rather than depicting figures or landscapes, she explored the materiality of painting, often placing the canvas on the ground to engage with the physicality of her work. This approach allowed her to experiment with shapes, colors, and textures that convey a spectrum of emotions. Her early works featured thin vinyl paint in simple shapes, while her later oil paintings became more exuberant and colorful, created with thick layers of paint. Titles were often assigned post-creation, resonating more with the work's mood than its content. Ayres also produced ambitious prints using various techniques, including etching and woodcut, culminating in a significant body of graphic work in her later years.

Central to her art was a desire to touch on something beyond control, seeking to express what she termed “the end of the line,” which mutates visually in expansive colors and shapes. While influenced by American Abstract Expressionism and Colour Field Painting, her work also reflected her admiration for artists like Henri Matisse.

Opening reception: 9 January, 6-8pm

Gallery address: 10/F, H Queen's, Central