Sylvia Sleigh

Sylvia Sleigh, exhibition view, Working at Home, 1969, Self-Portrait at Belsize Square, 1941, Paul Rosano with His Guitar, 1973, Arakawa and Madeline Gins, 1971, Simona Morini and Fred Tuten, 1966
exhibition design: MARTIN LEUTHOLD (JAKOB SCHLAEPFER, St. Gallen)
photo: Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen, GUNNAR MEIER

Arakawa and Madeline Gins, 1971
Simona Morini and Fred Tuten, 1966

Sylvia Sleigh, exhibition view, Paul Rosano Reclining, 1974, Bob Hock Standing, 1963-66, Paul Rosano with His Guitar, 1973, Betty Parsons, 1963, Joan of Arc with SS Michael and Margaret: Joan Watts, 1985, The Avocado (Lawrence and Sylvia with Arthur the Avocado), 1966
exhibition design: MARTIN LEUTHOLD (JAKOB SCHLAEPFER, St. Gallen)
photo: Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen, GUNNAR MEIER

Betty Parsons, 1963

Paul Rosano Reclining, 1974

Sylvia Sleigh, exhibition view, Paul Rosano with His Guitar, 1973, Northwestern University Group, 1977-80, Three Women (for cover of Time Magazine), 1972
exhibition design: MARTIN LEUTHOLD (JAKOB SCHLAEPFER, St. Gallen)
photo: Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen, GUNNAR MEIER

Northwestern University Group, 1977-80
Three Women (for cover of Time Magazine), 1972

Sylvia Sleigh, exhibition view, Felicity Rainnie Reclining, 1972
exhibition design: MARTIN LEUTHOLD (JAKOB SCHLAEPFER, St. Gallen)
photo: Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen, GUNNAR MEIER

Sylvia Sleigh, exhibition view, The Crystal Palace, Sydenham: The Rape of Apollo, 1957-58, The Crystal Palace, Sydenham: Venus in the Grass, 1957, The Crystal Palace, Sydenham: The Departure, 1957
exhibition design: MARTIN LEUTHOLD (JAKOB SCHLAEPFER, St. Gallen)
photo: Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen, GUNNAR MEIER

 

Crystal Palace Gardens: The Departure, 1957

Sylvia Sleigh, exhibition view, Max Warsh Seated Nude, 1998-2006, Zinnias from My Garden, 1967, Michael Greenwood Reclining, 1952, Still Life with Cupid in our Dining Room, Pett, 1952, Self-Portrait Cropped 107 Blackheath Park:The Red Dress, 1952
exhibition design: MARTIN LEUTHOLD (JAKOB SCHLAEPFER, St. Gallen)
photo: Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen, GUNNAR MEIER

Self-Portrait, Cropped, 107 Blackheath Park:The Red Dress, 1952

all images courtesy the artist

The visually seductive exhibition which is currently taking place at Kunsthalle Sankt Gallen is the most comprehensive retrospective to date by British artist SYLVIA SLEIGH (1916-2010). Its design – by MARTIN LEUTHOLD, textile designer and Art Director of Jakob Schlaepfer in St. Gallen – underlines the saturated palette of flowery colors, the ornamental, homely-textiles of decor she used during more than sixty years to frame her subjects.

Assembled across three rooms and hung in loose chronological order, the paintings depict her friends and acquaintances – naked or dressed – in everyday poses, sitting on chairs, standing in the garden or caught in pensive moments.

Involved with the early feminist movement, SYLVIA SLEIGH explored the question of values attached to the traditional representations of women and men, allowing her to adapt and comment on classic art themes.

I feel that my paintings stress the equality of men & women (women & men). To me, women were often portrayed as sex objects in humiliating poses. I wanted to give my perspective. I liked to portray both man and woman as intelligent and thoughtful people with dignity and humanism that emphasized love and joy – SYLVIA SLEIGH

This exhibition which is presenting fifty-four paintings, plus ten works on paper,
provides a great insight into the artist’s style and the key themes of her powerful works
to a wider audience.

Sylvia Sleigh, at Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen, on view until 2nd December, 2012



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