Selected ffor The Sussex Contemporary

Some exciting news: my painting Diaspora has been selected for Sussex Contemporary, and I’m really proud.

I haven’t entered my work into many exhibitions or competitions, so putting it forward still feels like a step into unfamiliar territory. Last year, I submitted to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and wasn’t selected. Naturally, I looked at the work that did get in and wondered: where did I go wrong?

Then I saw the cat paintings. Let’s just say they’re not really my thing, But i Jest.

That’s a slightly cheeky way of making a more serious point. It’s natural to compare your work with what’s been accepted, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you why yours wasn’t chosen. Art is subjective. A selection reflects the people making it: their tastes, their interests and what they respond to.

It’s something I’m learning to remember when putting my work out there. A rejection doesn’t have to become a verdict on the work, or on me as an artist.

And when a painting is selected, it’s worth taking a moment to enjoy it.

For now, I’m delighted that Diaspora will be part of Sussex Contemporary. Exciting times.