Marilyn Johns

Sun 26 January 2014 - Sat 22 February 2014

Murray Edwards College

The small selection of paintings exhibited here have been chosen by Marilyn Johns because they incorporate images and allusions that reflect a lifetime's association with the art of Italy. It is through this passion that she has been able to illuminate and explore the experiences of motherhood, and the inner life of dreams and memories.

Marilyn always works figuratively, yet her work is far from conventional. She synthesises her love of vibrant colour and a confident handling of paint with stories, poetry, and religious symbolism to produce paintings that explore feelings of joy, contentment, isolation, freedom and fear. Some of her work incorporates ideas inspired by the poetry of David Hart with whom she has collaborated for many years.

Marilyn Johns was born at the end of the second world war. Growing up in difficult circumstances has coloured her subsequent work, and childhood memories and family stories are still a potent trigger for creativity.
After gaining a Masters Degree at the Royal Academy Schools, she travelled widely in Europe, and lives in Italy. Marilyn has chosen to work in privacy and isolation, and has rarely exhibited, her last exhibition being in Italy in 2008 at the Palazzo della Corgna, Città della Pieve, in Umbria.

Cost: free