‘Before we knew’ Exhibition by Tracey Keeping

We are delighted to invite you to the open evening for new exhibitions ‘Before we knew’ by Tracey Keeping  on Friday 2 September 7:30-9:30pm. All welcome. Hospitality provided.

Opening evening: Friday 2 September 7:30-9:30pm

Exhibition Dates: 3 September – 8 October 2022

Venue: Cupola Gallery, 178a Middlewood Road, Sheffield S6 1TD

Opening times: Monday-Saturday 10-6pm

Tracey Keeping uses old family photographs as the inspiration behind her intriguing and some would say haunting paintings of children with indistinct or faded backgrounds.  Titles give hints as to the nature of the story behind the image but the viewer is left with room to imagine or build their own narrative.

Tracey says she is influenced by Eastern European illustrations as well as her from her own experience of working in the music industry.  She also feels that her convent education as well as her avid reading of Edwardian and Victorian children’s stories feeds into the work.

“Often using a restricted colour palette of grey/green/blue with hints of red/pink the artist paints and then rubs or scrapes back the surfaces creating the idea of a stain of what was or went before. These methods and colours are evocative of a faded or indistinct memory, which in turn creates the feeling of nostalgia or altered perception. The images are quiet and understated but are still impactful with the figures having real presence.  Many people find the images beautiful but also a little unsettling. Powerful work.” Karen Sherwood, Director