In Focus : Alfred Wallis

1 Feb-23 Apr 2014

Overview

Wallis, whose work also features in the Jerwood Collection, was a key figure in 20th century British art. He was perhaps an unusual artist, having no professional training and living reclusively in St Ives during his later life. For much of his life Wallis worked as a mariner and fisherman and took up painting in his later life, inspired by his memories of his seafaring past. Having little money to buy materials, he often painted on scraps of paper and card ripped from packaging boxes. Without any formal education, Wallis developed his own artistic language to capture his memories. His naïve style had a profound effect and influenced a number of British artists, including Ben Nicholson and Christopher Wood. The exhibition will feature a selection of Wallis’ iconic seascapes, generously loaned by Kettle’s Yard.