ABOUT ME

Garth Gratrix is a contemporary visual artist working in mixed mediums to create permanent and semi permanent installations that often respond to his immediate environment. This self titled 'Bloody Good Artist' utilises reclaimed objects that have been found or collected through various sources inclusive of charity shops, streets, bins and antique stores, in order to re-introduce the discarded object back to an audience that has since found distaste for their existence. The work explores the inevitability of change alongside the societal discomfort of this topic and indeed ageing.

Gratrix's work is often very formal whilst being constructed out of chaos, extending further the artists interests towards the notion of decoration and lifestyle choices.

These formalities within his work have made for an enhanced remit for the artist who also provides curatorial services for various artist led initiatives and organizations alike.

Currently acting as Curator for The Space; a gallery, studio and workshop venue in Preston, North West England, Gratrix has opened doors to many artists and creative practitioners and explored and promoted multiple art disciplines from painting, mixed media, photography, installation and experimental video. The venue has also given birth to new artist collective STUFF.

Gratrix is a co-founder of artist led initiative 'New Arts North West' which has displayed art in various settings from house exhibits, public transport exhibitions and outdoor public art as part of festivals since 2006.

Gratrix also unites his art practice and curatorial experiences in order to generate projects that involve the audience and or community in some way, notably 'Have Art Can Travel' and 'Once Upon A?', in which Gratrix shows insight into his processes in order to allow everyday people to assist in the development of the works aesthetics, themes and documentation.

These 'projects' have naturally given the artist facilitator experience which is being explored further through 'The Chrysalis Project'. A Target Wellbeing and Big Lottery funded project devised by arts organization Bluestreak Arts.

The emerging artists portfolio is extensive within the North West regions of England and he shows signs of becoming a great asset to the 'artworld'.

He says: “Yes I am North West Based, as are many artists… I currently only call myself 'A Bloody Good Artist' because I accept the path in which I have chosen is nowhere near complete yet, there is a long way to go before more interesting words can be used to describe myself. I am not making art in order to forget where I come from, there are a lot of nooks and crannies in which to place art and a less malleable audience in which to show it to up here 'in't North' which makes for a honest interpretation of my art within the community I find myself.”

Links

For The Space and The Chrysalis Project visit: www.bluestreakarts.net

For more about Garth Gratrix visit: garthgratrix.blogspot.com