cambridge contemporary art

September in the gallery

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This month we are delighted to exhibit paintings by two East-Anglian painters Ruth Bunnewell and Emma Green.

Thank you to everyone who came along to the Meet & Greet on Saturday. It was wonderful to chat with the artists and find out more about their process. We welcome several new ceramic artists to the gallery Malakai Fox, Barbara Gittings, Paul-James, Lise Herud Braten, and designer Bem Robinson.

Summer Exhibition

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Our mixed Summer Exhibition is here!

Browse our new paintings and handmade prints.

Independent Galleries Art Trail

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An Evening with Photographer Martin Bond

Thursday 7 July 5pm-7.30pm

Meet the creator of the famous A Cambridge Diary photography project Martin Bond as we celebrate his new catalogue of work in the gallery. This is a free event, do visit us early to enjoy a complimentary drink!

This event is a part of the Cambridge Independent Art Galleries Trail. Follow the map below to discover what is locally known as Cambridge’s arts quarter, home to a cluster of independent galleries found among the city’s iconic architecture. Explore each gallery’s unique exhibition and enjoy a drink.

Last week!

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It’s the last few days to see our exhibition of paintings by Emily Powell and Gill Gathercole. The show ends on Sunday 26th June. It’s been wonderful to have the gallery filled with colour this month. Next up is our mixed Summer Exhibition. We’re looking forward to show you all the new work arriving for the summer!

EMILY POWELL & GILL GATHERCOLE

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If you are visiting Cambridge for the long bank holiday weekend be sure to see our new exhibition of paintings by Emily Powell and Gill Gathercole.

Emily has created a series of Cambridge inspired paintings especially for this exhibition. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Our new collection of paintings by Gill Gathercole reflect her passion for still life and landscape.

My land & seascapes work is intuitive, mainly from memories and imagination. They are inspired by the beauty of places I know well and feel connected to – the Yorkshire coast, the Peak district, the north coast of Wales and holidays spent in the Mediterranean. In both subjects my concern and interest is in exploring and creating a visual language.

- Gill Gathercole

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We have finalised our Ukraine Fundraiser, the total amount raised is £18,539!

This was possible thanks to the generosity of our artists who donated a piece/s to the cause and to our customers who immediately responded and bought online and in the gallery. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking part.

The funds have been donated to Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). 13 DEC charities and their local partners are providing immediate relief to people feeling conflict.

Job Vacancy - Sunday Gallery Assistant

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We are looking for a regular Sunday Gallery Assistant who can increase their hours to work at busy times of the year and to cover holidays and staff sickness. Sunday hours are 11-5pm, other days/hours will be variable from week to week.

You must be flexible with working hours, we plan the rotas one month in advance but occasionally offer hours at short notice to cover staff sickness and other eventualities which may arise in both our premises, Cambridge Contemporary Art (Trinity Street) and Cambridge Contemporary Crafts (Bene’t Street).

When hiring a new member of staff, we look for a friendly, approachable person who will be able to give guidance to a customer looking for a particular work of art, discuss how it has been made and be able to gauge what the customer is looking for. You will need to be comfortable talking to customers about their preferences, advising them of what may be a good piece to buy and have the confidence to recommend alternatives when they aren’t sure about your choice.

You will be responsible in ensuring that you deliver excellent customer service in the gallery, on the phone and over email, alongside taking payments, wrapping purchases, and constantly monitoring and tidying the displays.

To keep the business running smoothly you will help to close the till at the end of the day, maintain accurate sales sheets as well as creating price labels, cleaning, dusting, painting walls and plinths to keep the gallery looking smart.

The displays in the gallery and craft shop change regularly, showing artists from all stages in their career. You may be part of the team that hangs the new exhibition and meets the artist(s) delivering their work.

We pride ourselves in promoting our artists extensively through our website and social media pages, this requires very good attention to detail to ensure that artists get the best possible exposure.

As both premises are open to the public 7 days a week, you will need to be vigilant and security minded at all times.

We are a small team of staff and are looking for the right person to join our team. This person will be conscientious, enthusiastic, able to work in a team and also by themselves.

This position would ideally suit someone who is self-employed or freelance.

Click here to request an application form.

Salary: £10 per hour

Closing date for application forms: midnight, 18 April 2022

Interview Dates: TBC

Paul Catherall & Kate Jackson

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We have just finished installing a new exhibition of paintings and silkscreens by Paul Catherall and Kate Jackson, ceramics by Arjan Van Dal, Paul Morley, Emily Myers and Jill Shaddock.

Thank you!

We’ve had a brilliant time during our Meet & Greet with Paul Catherall, Kate Jackson, Arjan Van Dal and Paul Morley. See photos from the event below.

Browse our new arrivals

Meet&Greet

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From left: Kate Jackson, Paul Catherall, Paul Morley and Arjan Van Dal

Thank you for a brilliant Meet&Greet yesterday! We might be repeating ourselves but we are so grateful to have artists and customers in the gallery again. It's hard to imagine that almost exactly two years ago we had just gone into the first lockdown!

Fundraiser update

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THANK YOU!

In the last week we have raised £16,226 for DEC (Disaster Emergency Committee) in support of Ukraine. Thank you to everybody who has made a purchase and thank you to our artists who have shown incredible generosity by donating their work to this worthwhile cause.

We still have many beautiful pieces to buy.

We will be adding more pieces in the coming weeks.

It's the last few days to see handmade prints and paintings by Melvyn Evans and Ray Sheldon, ceramics by Katharina Klug, wooden sculptures by Takahashi McGil and Jane Crisp and bronze sculptures by Alice Andrea Ewing. ⁠Thank you so much for your feedback about the exhibition, it's been lovely to hear (and see!) how much you've enjoyed it. ⁠ ⁠

Next up is an exhibition of paintings and silkscreens by Paul Catherall and Kate Jackson, ceramics by Arjan Van Dal, Paul Morley, Emily Myers and Jill Shaddock.

Join us for a Private View with Paul Catherall, Kate Jackson, Arjan Van Dal and Paul Morley on

Saturday 26 March 2022 between 2-4pm

This is an informal and free event. The artists will be happy to answer questions about their work and their creative process.

Fundraiser for Ukraine

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Like so many people we have been saddened and horrified by the war unfolding in Ukraine. Watching the news day after day we felt helpless and wanted to find a way to show our support and to raise vital funds.

We contacted our artists and asked if they would be willing to donate a piece of art for us to sell and to give 100% of the purchase price to DEC (Disaster Emergency Committee).

We chose to support DEC as they have a proven track record of dealing with emergencies and providing help on the ground, fast.

We have been absolutely bowled over by our community of artists and their generosity and we hope you will enjoy this catalogue of work of original paintings, handmade prints and ceramics, knowing that anything you purchase,

100% of the sale price will go towards supporting the people of Ukraine.

The fundraiser has been live just over a day and we have already raised £5150!

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Handmade prints and paintings by Melvyn Evans and Ray Sheldon, ceramics by Katharina Klug, wooden sculptures by Takahashi McGil and Jane Crisp and bronze sculptures by Alice Andrea Ewing continue until 20th March.

Private View

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Our new show starting Saturday 26th February features handmade prints and paintings by Melvyn Evans and Ray Sheldon, ceramics by Katharina Klug, wooden sculptures by Takahashi McGil and Jane Crisp and bronze sculptures by Alice Andrea Ewing.

Thank you very much for joining us for the private view of the exhibition! It’s wonderful to host events in the gallery again. Thank you to our artists who visited us on the night. Katharina, Alice and Melvyn - it’s always so insightful to talk about the artwork in person!

The show continues until 20th March.

Winter paintings by Paul Evans

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Thank you for a brilliant start to our exhibition of paintings by Paul Evans and ceramics by Hilary Mayo, Jacqui Ramrayka, Paula Downing and Tarragon Smith.

After a two year gap, it’s been wonderful to host a meet and greet with artists in the gallery again. Thank you so much for coming, we hope to see you at the next one on 25th February!

Browse our new arrivals from Hilary Mayo, Jacqui Ramrayka, Paula Downing and Tarragon Smith.

Our Winter Exhibition continues

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Our Mixed Winter Exhibition continues with new paintings by Julia Whitehead, Ruth Bunnewell and Daniel Cole. We have been regularly rotating our displays so there is always something new to see when you visit!

Christmas has arrived at Cambridge Contemporary Crafts!

Our tree decorations and stocking fillers are selling fast, both in the gallery and on our online shop. There are still plenty of quirky pieces by Miss Marple, Sophie Smith, Flora Olney and Sarah Myatt remaining, so do pop in for a browse, or take a look online at our curated Christmas shop. In the run up to Christmas we are constantly updating our online shop with new work. We are extremely grateful for the support for artists and small businesses like us at this time of year – thank you!

This month we have received brand new work by many of our artists! Find striking new sculptures by Cat Santos and contemporary gilded ceramics by Clay Shed Studio in our winter window display. We are so happy to have received new artisan coastal pottery by Emily Doran, ceramic figurines by Ellen Hayward, jewellery by Annabet Wyndham and lots of brilliant new Christmas cards by UK based artists.

Do pay us a visit at 5 Bene’t Street, Cambridge. We are open from 10am – 5:30pm Monday – Saturday, and 11am – 5pm Sundays & Bank Holidays. Our lovely staff are always on hand and happy to help to find the perfect gift this festive season.

Winter Exhibition

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After last winter’s restrictions, it is so lovely to see people enjoying our Winter Exhibition in the flesh. We have received exciting new paintings by Emily Powell, Gael Sellwood, Dk Macleod, Halima Washington-Dixon (pictured above) and many others!

New paintings by Emily Powell

New paintings by DK Macleod

New paintings by Halima Washington Dixon

We are also extremely excited to introduce new artists in the gallery Emma Carlisle and Katy Ellis

Exciting new ceramics!

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Thank you for a brilliant first week to our new show of handmade prints and paintings by Carry Akroyd and Niki Bowers.

It's been wonderful to see the response to depictions of East Anglian landscapes and British bird life. ⁠

The Show continues until 24th October.⁠

We are delighted to display a stunning selection of new ceramics during our October Show.


Tiffany Scull works from her Dorset studio creating ceramic forms decorated by hand with detailed Sgraffito drawings of many different plants and animals from around the world.

 


Ania Perkowska is a London based ceramicist. She creates functional pieces inspired by contrasts and opposites. Working mainly in stoneware her techniques include organic textures, sgraffito and slip trailing.

Reesha Zubair produces small batches of pottery, both wheel thrown and hand built, from her studio in Bristol. Her inspiration is her native home of the Maldives: the beach, sea and nature influence her work and this can be seen in the shapes and the glaze colours she uses.

 


Georgie Gardiner uses the technique of paper resist to decorate her thrown vessels and bowls. Cutting individual pieces of paper by hand she builds up her designs as she goes, creating visually striking pieces with bold graphic motifs.

 

Niki Bowers and Carry Akroyd

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Late Starlings by Niki Bowers

We are extremely delighted to showcase new linocuts by Niki Bowers and brand new serigraphs and paintings by Carry Akroyd during our October exhibition.

This show is a treat for all lovers of East Anglian landscape, birdlife and traditional printmaking techniques. We hope you enjoy it!

Gravel Pit Heron by Carry Akroyd