GLASGOW.- An exhibition of over 40 oil on board paintings, which detail Richard Walker’s own studio space, opened at The Glasgow School of Art today, Saturday 4 October 2014.

This new body of work has been painted over a two year period. Walker’s studio space is used as a starting point for a series of paintings that combine direct observation with an exploration of the conventions and history of representation. Richard Walker Studio Paintings will run in The Reid Gallery until 2 November 2014. Richard Walker has taught in the School of Fine Art, Painting and Printmaking department, for ten years.

Richard Walker’s studio is located on the top floor of an old school building, the community-run Kinning Park Complex, in Glasgow. With the windows blacked out, the artist uses a data projector, lights and mirrors to illuminate different areas of the studio. The subsequent paintings reference the changing light and projected image on the surfaces of the space.

Each painting has been made in one sitting, lasting four to five hours. The artist sees each work like a performance, enjoying the pressure, rigor and spontaneity of working within these time limits. If the painting is not working at the conclusion, it will be scraped back, to begin again. The paintings have an emphasis on colour, mark making and surface.

Jenny Brownrigg, Exhibitions Director says “We are delighted to be presenting this body of new work in the Reid Gallery here at The Glasgow School of Art. The GSA prides itself as an institution with an emphasis on a studio culture, where our students think and make work in a studio environment. This exhibition affords a glimpse into the life and imagination of a studio”.

Richard Walker teaches in Department of Painting and Printmaking, School of Fine Art, at The Glasgow School of Art.

Walker has shown widely since the 80’s, having had various solo shows including the Mappin Gallery, Sheffield, Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh, Andrew Mummery Gallery, London and more recently the Alexandre Gallery New York. Recent group shows have included ‘Ever Since I Put Your Picture in a Frame’ at 42 Carlton Place and ‘Whisper Down the Lane’ at Gallery 400 in Chicago. Walker has been the recipient of a number of awards including from the Pollock/Krasner Foundation, Hope Scott Trust and Creative Scotland. He has taken part in various residencies including the Albers Foundation in Connecticut, Berwick Residency and recently an RSA Residency at Haining House in Selkirk.