LISA WRIGHT

Lisa Wright’s practice reflects historical paintings with a contemporary flare and haunting elegance. Often isolated, the figures within Wright's paintings and drawings hover on the brink of adulthood. Their childish faces, flushed cheeks and rounded bellies are at odds with the fragments of formal, adult, decorative clothing - ribbons, ruffs and petticoats - that adorn their predominantly unclothed bodies. The complex, in-between era of puberty is explored through the emotional and physical vulnerability of the figures, and adolescent elegance, confidence, awkwardness and defiance are exposed. 

After studying at The Royal Academy Schools, London, Wright relocated to Cornwall, where she currently lives and works. She has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions, such as at Tate St Ives in the significant Art Now Cornwall exhibition. In 2019, Wright worked in collaboration with Tom Piper MBE on a major commission for the Forestry Commission’s at Suffolk’s Thetford Forest, celebrating 100 years of forestry. Future Forest featured ten life size figures by Wright, based on Classical motifs, placed by and within the landscape by Piper, representing custodians of the past looking over our forests. 

Wright’s work is held in many corporate and private collections and she was artist in residence with the Royal Shakespeare Company throughout the two year period of their Histories cycle, culminating in an exhibition at the Roundhouse, London. Wright's work has been selected for the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition for 25 years. Awards include the National Open Art Prize, the Hunting Art Prize, and the 2013 Threadneedle Prize.

Charity Focus | AT The Bus

AT The Bus offers a school-based programme of art as therapy to support the education, health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 7-18 in Oxfordshire and London. Group sessions take place during the school day in a purposely designed therapeutic studio space in a double decker bus located on school grounds or in specially designed studio spaces.

Lisa has been an active supporter of the charity and its Founder, Juli Beattie for several years.