Ferens Art Gallery is delighted to announce its new artist in residence; Norwich-based artist Anna Brass.

Anna has been invited to create new work in response to two Canaletto paintings of the Grand Canal; one in the Ferens collection, and one on loan from the Royal Collection Trust. Her new work will be presented in the exhibition Canaletto Two paintings, one perspective, which opens on Friday 20 October.   

Due to maintenance work at the Ferens Art Gallery, Anna’s work has been produced in her Norwich studio, and a special film of the creation of the work and her practice has been produced. This film can be viewed in Gallery Two. She will also display previous work within the permanent collection spaces at the Ferens towards the end of October, including a recent film work, and three textile pieces.

Alongside the work on display, Anna will be giving two free to attend talks at the Ferens Art Gallery. In November she will talk about her new commission, and in December the focus will be on her practice and previous work. She will also be working with primary schools in the museum’s membership scheme to deliver a series of practical workshops and teacher training opportunities throughout November. Anna will also run a workshop with young people participating in our Saturday Art Club scheme and deliver a session with our young volunteer group Future Ferens 

Anna works with a wide variety of materials and processes, including 16mm film, carpet tufting and ceramics. She did her foundation course at Wimbledon School of Art before studying Fine Art at Newcastle University in 2007-11, and Experimental Film at Kingston University 2011-12. Much of Anna’s work draws on a diverse range of imagery, including illuminated manuscripts, mosaics, cartoons, film posters, playing cards, pilgrim badges, and wall paintings. Her sculptures emerge from a dialogue between these sources and the materials she uses (cardboard, fabric remnants, paint) as well as elements from everyday life.

Commenting on the opportunity, Anna said: “I am really excited to be artist in residence at the Ferens. It's a brilliant opportunity to explore the collection and to make a new body of work in response to Canaletto's work. Exploring Hull with Venice in mind has been a very enjoyable way to get to know the city and has helped me to understand their shared vulnerability to sea level rises.”

Claire Longrigg, Exhibitions Officer, Ferens Art Gallery says: “Anna has been visiting us in Hull regularly this summer to conduct research, view the collection, learn about and make sketches of the city. We are excited to reveal her new body of work which includes ceramics and textiles later this month.”

Councillor Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure said: “This residency offers a great opportunity for visitors to see two paintings by the world-renowned Venetian painter Canaletto alongside a contemporary artist. Anna’s body of work creates a dialogue with these paintings, with the theme of climate change at the forefront and I look forward to seeing the response to it.”

The work will be on display until 28 January 2024.

Artist in Residence events:

In Conversation: Flooding and Theatre, Hull and Venice

Thursday 30 November, 2-3pm

Ferens artist in residence Anna Brass and Dr Stewart Mottram, University of Hull, will discuss parallels between flood risks in Venice and Hull. They will also discuss Edward Henry Corbould’s painting Noah, A Mystery which features in the City of Water exhibition and the new work Anna has made in response to the Canaletto paintings in the exhibition Two paintings, one perspective.

Gallery 7, Free Drop-in

Celestial City in a Tupperware

Thursday 14 December, 2-3pm

Ferens Studio, Free Drop-in

Ferens artist in residence Anna Brass will talk about her practice and her recent project ‘Haukebodde Hacoud Hacwod Aukud’, a quasi-science fiction film set in the 14th century Italy and Essex. Shot on 16mm with a cast of non-actors, the film presents a rich series of tableaux dense with Anna’s sculptures, backdrops and makeshift constructions. The film will be shown in Gallery 1 at the Ferens, alongside Pietro Lorenzetti’s ‘Christ between Peter and Paul’, c. 1320.

For more information please see: www.annabrass.com

Instagram - @King_anna_wuffingas