Lydia Blakeley (b. 1980) was born in Bracknell, Berkshire. She finished her MFA Fine Art at Goldsmiths (2017-2019). She completed her BA (Hons) Fine Art from Leeds College of Art (2013-2016). Blakeley uses paint to reflect the present, which is saturated with snapshots of hyper-reality, and by using the medium as a response to popular culture. Through the painting process she attempts to introduce new layers of meaning, develop narratives and present alternative interpretations of out actuality. The materiality of her paintings reinforce the permanence of the image within an increasingly dematerialized world.
Solo exhibitions include Hellhole, Plaza Plaza, Elephant and Castle, London (2019); You’re Doing Amazing, Sweetie, The Boardroom, Blenheim Walk, Leeds Arts University (2018)and Leisure, Vernon Street Gallery, Leeds College of Art (2017).
Group exhibitions include Plucky Pony Makes Break For Freedom, SET, Bermondsey, London (2019); Mission To Touch The Sun: Sun Burnt, Paradise Works, Salford, Manchester (2019); Utopia Through Nostalgia, The Koppel Project Hive, Holborn, London (2019); Young British Painters, Arthill Gallery, West Brompton, London (2018); #34 Annual Open Exhibition, CGP Gallery, Southwark Park, London (2018); GoldX, DeptfordX, London (2018); Mission to Touch the Sun, Enclave, Deptford, London (2018); Getting Away!, Quay Arts, Newport, Isle of Wight (2018); For I’m not among the waders: The story of Zebedee, Post_Institute, Brixton, London (2018); Getting Away, ArthouSE1, Bermondsey, London (2018); Goldsmiths MFA Interim Show, Deptford, London (2018); Duty Free. Is This It?,Chelsea College of Arts, UAL, London (2018)and Via… Brockley, London (2018).