Simon Kirk

My work is primarily a combination of painting, collage and decollage (ripping, tearing or sanding away at built up surfaces to reveal layers below). I am a big fan of haiku, the finding of profound meaning in modest things and the gentle playfulness that helps us view everyday life with fresh eyes. By combining otherwise unrelated images with my cut-up text I engages the viewer’s imagination and leave space for their own stories to emerge.

BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting

I exhibited and sold at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 2015, 2013 and 2010. I sell globally, notably to collectors in America, Dubai and Europe.

Selected exhibitions:

56th Essex Open
24 July - 10 October 2015
Beecroft Art Gallery
Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2015
June 8 2015 to Aug 16 2015
Royal Academy of Arts
Piccadilly, London

Exhibiting with the Turner Barnes Gallery
The Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong
22 to 24 May 2015
(15 to 17 March 2013)
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

Exhibiting with the Turner Barnes Gallery
The Affordable Art Fair Battersea
Oct 23 to Oct 26 2014
(Oct 24 to Oct 27 2013)
Battersea Park Albert Bridge Road
London SW11 4PX

Simon Kirk and Karen Christensen Joint Exhibition
April 15 to May 6 2014
Kulturhuset Rejsestalden
Jaegerspris
Denmark

The Well Hung Gallery Inaugural Salon Exhibition
Dec 5 to Jan 4 2014
The Well Hung Gallery
239 Hoxton Street London N1 5LG

Exhibiting with the Turner Barnes Gallery
The Affordable Art Fair Singapore
Nov 21 to Nov 24 2013
F1 Pit Building Singapore

'1 Plus 1 Equals 11' - A collaboration of work from 11 artists
Sept 1 to Sept 6 2013
The Norwich Forum
Millennium Plain
Norwich NR2 1TF

Simon Kirk Solo Exhibition
Aug 1 to Sept 30 2013
Gallery Yada
Hvide Sande Jutland
Denmark

'Paper and Wire' - A Group Exhibition
Aug 1 to Sept 1 2013
The Faux Gallery
70 The Broadway SS9 1AE

'Impression and Narrative' - An exhibition of paintings by Simon Kirk and Thomas Hogan
July 23 to Aug 4 2013
Lauderdale House
Highgate Hill
Greater London N6 5HG

'That Summer Feeling: A Group Exhibition of Colour Mood Excitement and Expression'
July 20 to Sept 14 2013
Turner Barnes Gallery
Chelmsford, Essex CM1 4LN

'People: A Figurative Exhibition' curated by Lemon Art
July 3 to July 7 2013
Bankside Gallery
London

Summer Exhibition 2013
June 9 to Aug 17 2013
Royal Academy of Arts
Piccadilly, London

Exhibiting with the Turner Barnes Gallery
The Affordable Art Fair New York
April 3 to April 7 2013
(April 3 to April 7 2012)
Metropolitan Pavilion
New York USA

Simon Kirk Solo Exhibition
Sept 1 to Sept 30 2012
Coach House Gallery
Waterside
Brightlingsea CO7 0AX

'Kunst I Slusen' - Art Hvide Sande 2012
July 29 to Aug 10 2012
Hvide Sande Denmark

'A Reservoir of Raw Materials' - Group Exhibition
July 9 to Aug 3 2012
The Lloyd Gill Gallery
Weston Super Mare

Simon Kirk Solo Exhibition
Oct 1 to Nov 1 2011
Gallery 113
Flagstaff Arizona

'Miniatures' - Solo Exhibition
Sept 1 to Sept 30 2011
The White Wall Space Gallery
Essex UK

'The White Garden'
Aug 1 to Aug 30 2011
The White Wall Space Gallery
Essex UK

53rd Essex Open Show
July 9 to Oct 1 2011
The Beecroft Gallery Station Road
Westcliff on Sea UK

Simon Kirk Solo Exhibition
May 1 to Aug 1 2011
Ida Trier Gallery, Frederikssund
Denmark

'Safety Helmets Must Be Worn'
An exhibition of artist books and sketchbooks
March 1 to March 31 2011
Southend Library
Southend on Sea Essex UK

Summer Exhibition 2010
June 14 2010 to Aug 22 2010
Royal Academy of Arts
Piccadilly, London

I always look to the work of Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Jean Dubuffet, Cy Twombly, Paul Klee and Jean-Michel Basquiat. I love the work of William Burroughs and Charles Bukowski - both have a very dry dark humour to them that appeals to me. Films inspire me - I’m drawn to films that don’t have a linear plot, like David Lynch films for example. You recognise all the scenarios, you can understand the language and you almost know what’s going on, but not quite. It’s open to interpretation.

collage, painting, mixed media, poetry, humour