Wilhelmina Barns-Graham 1912 - 2004
Sandra Blow 1925 - 2006
Energy in Abstraction
8th April - 1st May, 2008

Art First is very pleased to present exhilarating late work by two important British modernists.

Barns-Graham and Blow shared a friendship over several decades from the late 1950s onwards, both spending considerable periods in St. Ives. For each of them their later years were particularly fruitful, work after work was produced that proclaimed the freedom of expression they fought for and achieved in their careers.

Both artists have been honoured with solo exhibitions at Tate St.Ives, each accompanied by significant catalogue essays by the highly respected critic and writer, Mel Gooding (Blow, 2001; Barns-Graham, 2005).

We are privileged to co-operate with the Barns-Graham Charitable Trust and the estate of Sandra Blow. This has enabled the selection of wonderful paintings, several never seen in public exhibition before. There will also be groups of stunning prints, resulting from the successful collaborations that each artist enjoyed with accomplished specialist printmaking studios.