About Alice
Alice Macdonald (b.1992) is an artist living in London. Her work is primarily based in drawing and painting but also includes ceramics, printmaking and set design.
Statement
My work is based on a practice of drawing in a sketch book, from observation and memory. The drawings are diaristic, and, like in a diary, I feel free to consider any image or idea – slight or serious – that calls my attention.
The main thing is that there needs to be some personal feeling or interest - an emotional engagement. For this reason, my subjects are usually my friends and family situated in familiar landscapes and interiors. I often think of drawing in terms of paying attention or taking an interest in someone or something. I want the viewer to share this feeling of intimacy and be as interested in my subjects as I am.
In the studio, I work from these diaristic drawings to make watercolours, prints and ultimately, works on canvas. I work instinctively and impulsively, experimenting freely with materials, colour and texture, allowing these painterly elements to lead the image making process. I make my own paints from raw pigment and rabbit skin glue. I use the same glue to collage fabric to the canvas.
Inevitably, the image changes with each attempt to recreate it. Despite attempts to be accurate, like anyone describing an event, I am a storyteller, embellishing, exaggerating and altering details. Storytelling is described by Susan Sontag as ‘an activity that faces in two directions.’ – ‘On the one hand, it's connected with an idea of truth. On the other hand, it's connected with an idea of invention, imagination, lies’.
The collaged canvas expresses this duality, as I use it to both construct and disrupt the image. It is clumsy and imprecise– confusing our perception of space, creating unexpected depth and a simultaneous feeling of flatness. I like that often the collaged elements look as if they might easily move or be removed. I want to emphasise that the image is a construction, and it’s a rickety one – there is always the possibility of change – or other versions of the story.
The process of creating the image is intrinsic to the work. I see it as a it is a form of unconscious thinking through making. In this meditative process I consider the experience of living. As I slowly build the images, I’m informed by literature, an interest in history and art history, in particular the logic of medieval painting and tapestry. Recent works have been influenced by reading the physicist Carlo Rovelli’s descriptions of the nature of matter, light and time. I am fascinated by the idea that air and light have tangible, physical substance and how to depict this.
The paintings that result in the end are neither wholly autobiographical nor completely fictional. Rather than portraits or reportage I see them as evidence of my attempt to understand the world around me. They are a record of the time spent looking, drawing and thinking about my subjects. They are also a depiction of my sincere relationship with, and love for, the people and places I paint.
Alice Macdonald (b.1992) is an artist living in London. Her work is primarily based in drawing and painting but also includes ceramics, printmaking and set design.
Statement
My work is based on a practice of drawing in a sketch book, from observation and memory. The drawings are diaristic, and, like in a diary, I feel free to consider any image or idea – slight or serious – that calls my attention.
The main thing is that there needs to be some personal feeling or interest - an emotional engagement. For this reason, my subjects are usually my friends and family situated in familiar landscapes and interiors. I often think of drawing in terms of paying attention or taking an interest in someone or something. I want the viewer to share this feeling of intimacy and be as interested in my subjects as I am.
In the studio, I work from these diaristic drawings to make watercolours, prints and ultimately, works on canvas. I work instinctively and impulsively, experimenting freely with materials, colour and texture, allowing these painterly elements to lead the image making process. I make my own paints from raw pigment and rabbit skin glue. I use the same glue to collage fabric to the canvas.
Inevitably, the image changes with each attempt to recreate it. Despite attempts to be accurate, like anyone describing an event, I am a storyteller, embellishing, exaggerating and altering details. Storytelling is described by Susan Sontag as ‘an activity that faces in two directions.’ – ‘On the one hand, it's connected with an idea of truth. On the other hand, it's connected with an idea of invention, imagination, lies’.
The collaged canvas expresses this duality, as I use it to both construct and disrupt the image. It is clumsy and imprecise– confusing our perception of space, creating unexpected depth and a simultaneous feeling of flatness. I like that often the collaged elements look as if they might easily move or be removed. I want to emphasise that the image is a construction, and it’s a rickety one – there is always the possibility of change – or other versions of the story.
The process of creating the image is intrinsic to the work. I see it as a it is a form of unconscious thinking through making. In this meditative process I consider the experience of living. As I slowly build the images, I’m informed by literature, an interest in history and art history, in particular the logic of medieval painting and tapestry. Recent works have been influenced by reading the physicist Carlo Rovelli’s descriptions of the nature of matter, light and time. I am fascinated by the idea that air and light have tangible, physical substance and how to depict this.
The paintings that result in the end are neither wholly autobiographical nor completely fictional. Rather than portraits or reportage I see them as evidence of my attempt to understand the world around me. They are a record of the time spent looking, drawing and thinking about my subjects. They are also a depiction of my sincere relationship with, and love for, the people and places I paint.
CV
Education
MA Fine Art 2022-23 City And Guilds Art School, London (distinction)
The Drawing Year 2016-17 The Royal Drawing School (post-graduate diploma)
Illustration BA Hons 2011-14 Falmouth University
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design 2010-11 Oxford Brookes University
Selected Exhibitions
Solo and Two Person Exhibitions
2026 Every Window Is A Holiday Cedric Bardawil Gallery, London
2025 Day Dreams (residency solo show) The Cabin, LA
2024 A Hand Is Not A Cage two person exhibition with Joana Galego at Soho Revue
2024 Looking Glass two person exhibition with Jessica Jane Charleston at Weald Contemporary, Sussex
2023 Fruit, Birds, Flowers, Trees (solo show) LKIF Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2022 The Gentle Vibration Of Things (solo show) curated by Paint Talk, V.O curations, London
2020 Silent Disco Collaborative installation with Mark Connolly at Wells Projects, London
Group Exhibitions
2026 The Summer Exhibition The Royal Academy, London
2026 Between Us Binder of Women X Soho Revue Gallery, London
2026 Soft Edges The Royal Watercolour Society, London
2025 Papier III Delphian Gallery (online)
2025 Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair with Soho Revue Gallery, London
2025 A Day At The Seaside Oliver Projects, London
2025 Maius Laura Lopes Art, Wiltshire
2025 London Art Fair with Oliver Projects, London
2024 Print Revue Soho Revue, London
2024 Still Life Contemporary Six, Manchester
2024 Liminality EY Projects, China
2024 Almost Blue Oliver Projects at The RWS Gallery, London
2024 Work On Paper 6 Blue Shop Gallery (online)
2024 Behold Your Heart at Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London
2024 Moments Of Glad Grace with The Violet Hour at Abbot And Holder, London
2024 Moodlight at The Platform by VCRB Gallery, Antwerp
2023 Small Worlds The Graduate Gallery, London
2023 Samhain Purslane (online)
2023 Ode To Autumn The Violet Hour (online)
2023 Don't Look Back Vivienne Roberts Projects, London
2023 Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair with Oliver Projects, London
2023 Moored Together Canal Boat Art Fair, London
2023 MA Degree Show City and Guilds Art School, London
2023 RWS Now Royal Watercolour Society, London
2023 Work On Paper 5 Blue Shop Gallery (online)
2023 Summer Exhibition The Royal Academy, London
2023 Power Play Oliver Projects, London
2023 Love And Worry Pound Arts Centre, Corsham
2023 Who Holds The Sword? Hypha Studios, London
2022 The Artist’s Office Party The Amber Room , London
2022 Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair with Oliver Projects, London
2022 Power To Emotion Tart Gallery at Fitzrovia Gallery, London
2022 Bankley Open Call Bankley Gallery, Manchester
2022 A Well Lived Life curated by Phin Jennings, Drakes, London
2022 Bright Young Things Alex Eagle Studios, London
2022 Women Celebrating Surrealism at Islington Arts Factory, London
2022 London Lives Royal Watercolour Society, Bankside, London
2022 Escape Routes Oliver Projects, London
2022 The Amber Room III Reference Point Library, London
2022 Omicron Edition Open Call Tini Mini Room, The Netherlands
2022 Royal Watercolour Society Open Bankside Gallery, London
2022 Dream Baby Dream Curated by Paint Talk, The Fitzrovia Gallery, London
2022 Assemble V.O curations, Conduit Street, London
2022 Carnival of Clouds Jane Trady Fine Art, Online
2021 Dentons Art Prize, Dentons, London
2021 Paint Talk Open Call, With Love II online show
2021 Art On A Postcard Winter Auction Soho Revue, London
2021 We Are Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On Aleph Contemporary at The Cello Factory, London
2021 Open Studios V.O. Curations, London
2021 Notes From The Big Screen The Narrow Gallery, London
2021 A Small Good Thing online show curated by Sam Luke Heath
2021 Life On Venus (part II and III) The Tub, Hackney, Live auction via the Auction Collective
2020 The Amber Room II curated by Rosie Reed
2020 Hung Up curated by All Mouth Gallery, The Tub, London
2020 Reaction In Seclusion online show
2020 Curated For Covid online show
2020 The Just curated by Dan Coombs for Aleph Contemporary
2019 A High Hang Curated by Christabel McGreevy, Arebyte Project Space
2019 Papillon Tom Faulkner Show Room, London
2019 If You Know You Know Arebyte Project Space at Eccleston Place
2019 Spot The Artist Porthmeor Studios, Cornwall
2019 Fresh Air Hot Sauce Arebyte Project Space at Eccleston Place
2019 The Summer Exhibition The Royal Academy of Arts, London
2019 This is The Deep The Brixton Windmill, London
2019 Sugar Shilpa, Espacio Gallery, London
2018 Charlie Waller Memorial Trust Art Fair, Newbury
2018 Beep Painting Prize, Esylium Gallery, Swansea
2018 Bow Arts Open Studios, Leegate House, London
2018 Bainbridge Print Open, ASC Gallery, London
2018 Downsizing, Cave Space, London
2018 Gift Shop, 66 Exmouth Market, London
2018 Drawing Marathon, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI
2017 Open Studio, Space Studios, London
2017 The Drawing Year End Of Year Exhibition, The Royal Drawing School, London
2017 The Best of The Drawing Year, Christies, London
2017 National Original Print Exhibition 2017, Bankside Gallery, London
2016 Make Ready, Attico Arts Centre, Watford
2016 Line, The Line Gallery, Stroud
2016 The Family Jewels, Darbyshire Picture Framers, London
2015 Drawing Intensive, Mercer Chance Gallery, London
2015 Pop up Gallery, Aldborough, Suffolk
2015 Pushing The Envelope, The House of Illustration, London
Awards and Residencies
2025 Awarded The Elizabeth Greenshields Grant (second grant)
2025 La Brea Studio Residency, LA
2024 Clover Mill Residency, The Netherlands
2023 Awarded ACS x CGLAS Studio Prize
2023 Awarded The Skinner's Company Stephen Gooden Prize For Engraving
2022 Awarded the Elizabeth Greenshields Grant
2022 Young Artist Award, Royal Watercolour Society
2021 Painting Residency, Dumfries House, Scotland
2021 Shortlisted for The Dentons Art Prize
2021 Longlisted for the Ruth Borchard Self portrait prize
2020 Shortlisted for the Sequested Prize
2020 Awarded Arts Council Emergency Funding for individuals
2019 Dumfries House Residency, Scotland
2018 Awarded IIFA Teaching Residency (Modinagar, India)
2017 Awarded the Rhode Island School of Design Residency Prize
2017 Shortlisted for the Gwen May Student RePrintmakers Award
2017 Recipient of The Great Art Prize at the National Original Print Exhibition 2017.
2015 – 2016 Artist in Residence (Ceramics) at Lyndons Arts Trust London
2014 Artist in Residence (Printmaking) at the Scuola Graphica Internazionale, Venice
2014 Shortlisted for the Falmouth Reportage Drawing Award
