A new exhibition at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle celebrates the life and work of local artist and curator, Nerys Johnson.
The exhibition explores Johnson’s lived experience of rheumatoid arthritis and the subsequent impact of disability on her artistic practice. The works on display have been chosen from a large body of Johnson’s work, which was donated to the Laing by Johnson’s estate in November 2022.
Johnson, who died in 2001, is known for the vibrant and often intense colours in her work combined with dramatic and abstract forms of flowers, often set against dark backdrops. But her work is varied – she uses different media and includes a variety of subjects beyond flowers, including self-portraits, abstract nudes, and architectural motifs.
Main image: Hedge Rose Hips & Maysii on Blue & Black by Nerys Johnson (2000). Laing Art Gallery.