Rose Wylie makes history as the first female painter at the Royal Academy
Rose Wylie, at 91, is capturing attention as the first female painter to take over the main galleries at the Royal Academy, showcasing a vibrant array of artworks that reflect her boundless creativity and a playful take on daily life, reports BritPanorama.
Wylie’s art, characterised by its bright colours and simple shapes, possesses a child-like delight that belies her advanced years. The pieces often include whimsical elements like plump cats, garden flowers, and notorious film stars, creating a rich tapestry of memories and observations of modern life.
While the subjects of her work are not the conventional themes celebrated by ‘serious’ artists, they reveal a commitment to challenge artistic norms established during her formative years at Folkestone and Dover School of Art. Wylie’s style serves as a reflection of her journey, intertwining fragmented memories with historical episodes.
In an accompanying interview, Wylie urges, “Do the thing you’re told not to,” a sentiment that captures both her rebellious spirit and her artistic philosophy. Works like The Well-Cooked Omelette, a monumental depiction of an omelette at risk of being thrown away, demonstrate her ability to capture fleeting moments, infusing them with significance.
This retrospective includes around 90 works from the past 25 years, signalling a continued ascent in her career rather than a decline. Despite being previously overshadowed, Wylie gained recognition later in life, including key exhibitions at notable venues such as Tate Britain and the Serpentine Gallery. Notably, she was elected a Royal Academician in 2014 and received an OBE in 2018.
Following a lengthy hiatus during her child-rearing years, Wylie insists that her time spent raising her family was valuable for the experiences she gathered. “I was absolutely in it; I just wasn’t doing it,” she reflects, indicating that her artistic life continued even when not actively creating art.
Her post-children return to art included a focus on drawing, which remains a foundational aspect of her practice. Wylie’s drawings span various subjects, ranging from incidental observations to preparatory sketches for her paintings, like her self-portrait Fluffy Head (2020).
Time and memory play a crucial role in Wylie’s work, evident in pieces like Park Dogs & Air Raid (2017), which juxtaposes childhood memories of an air raid with a peaceful park scene. Her art embraces imperfection, a reflection of the process and evolution of ideas, akin to the poetic transformations she seeks in her work.
The artist prefers familiar subjects, drawing from pop culture icons to explore how we perceive their imagery over time. Her portrayal of film stars, such as Nicole Kidman, distorts reality while conveying a deeper truth about collective memory and representation.
Despite the variety across her oeuvre, Wylie’s distinctive style remains consistent, suggesting an ongoing potential for innovation at an age when most artists have long established their legacies.
‘Rose Wylie: The Picture Comes First’ is at the Royal Academy, London, until 19 April.
