Survey at Bluecoat, Liverpool

Survey – Jerwood Arts’ largest review of contemporary art practice in 12 years – is about to open at Bluecoat in Liverpool, the only northwest based venue to host the touring exhibition. The hugely diverse display will feature newly commissioned work by 15 ‘early-career’ artists from across the UK, who were selected from a long-list of 72 nominees put forward by 35 ‘established artists’ including Rachel Maclean, Ryan Gander and Andy Holden.

Known for its legacy of working with artists that demonstrate outstanding potential within the first five years of their career, Jerwood Arts has helped to bring many of the UK’s most exciting new names to the fore over the last decade. This brand new presentation provides an important snapshot of where the contemporary art scene is right now, and this year’s list of exhibitors includes: Chris Alton, Simeon Barclay, Hazel Brill, Flo Brooks, Emma Cousin, Joe Fletcher Orr, Tom Goddard, Ashley Holmes, Lindsey Mendick, Nicole Morris, Milly Peck, Anna Raczynski, Will Sheridan, Rae-Yen Song and Frank Wasser.

Themes explored within the show range broadly from familial and personal identity to societal and political frameworks, played out across film, performance, ceramics, installation and painting. We’re especially looking forward to encountering Barclay’s contribution following his exceptional solo exhibition, Life Room, at Holden Gallery earlier this year; and Mendick’s, whose unconventional re-characterisation of ‘dangerous women’ from the Bible presented across a series of decadent fans may have caught your attention at Fancy Pants at The Portico Library.

Make sure to catch the preview of Survey on 12 April, which will include a performance of ‘Good to Us’ by Ashley Holmes. Bluecoat will be the third organisation to host the touring exhibition, which will travel to its final venue, Baltic in Newcastle, in July.