Tracy Watt

Lucretia paints superb art and we genuinely are really proud of her and to be holding this exhibition. To me, she is up there with the old Masters and brings fine art, in the literal sense, to our patrons. Currently she is based in Wales and our gallery in St Albans, just outside of London.
She shall be discovered!

When your art is challenging and your technique is sublime there can be no question of the talent and no question in my mind that Lucretia will soon make her mark in the art world. It started with her, we are merely a vesel and a belief in her.
I love art and painting in all its forms - but know i could never dream of creating the work with the skill Lucretia has.
We are not challenged enough these days, things are too trendy or too contrived.
This exhibition will be astounding and I truly look forward to the conversations from our patrons as they visit the gallery.

As a painter my imagery depicts both the male and female forms. Predominately encapsulating the gaze of the female gaze as artist. Responding to the supposed perfection of the feminine as physical object in art history and contemporary cultures obsessive analysis of self. Visually re-telling narratives spoken artists in the past. Biblical, Mythological and Literary sources. Placing robust and emotive characters in the place of the expected passive objectified nude. Often using my own likeness. Creating an interesting intellectual, aesthetic and psychological play with the inherent views of the spectator.

The turbulent relations created in male/ female works is present in the almost unspoken dialogue existing through symbolism and physical interaction. The Biblical Adam and Eve is a perfect narrative for my idiosyncratic depictions. Lending itself to unspoken sexualisation of the image and fecundity. Symbolism materializes as masks, foliage and animals add to the thought provoking paintings. These unique responses to the figurative discourse have been exhibited in both group and solo shows. Both in the UK and Internationally.

Current practice is a development of both technical prowess and using symbolic element, such as birds and flowers, to create a collection entitled Special People. Portraits who's subjects are the creators of a source photograph (selfie), or taken by their associates in life or work. These contain some visual clue to the persona of the individual.

As a female painter my focus is directed towards the metamorphosis of the female nude through an art historic context. To attempt through creative interpretation transcendence of culturally defined gender expectations of the feminine. The translucent perfection of the Venus. Ingres’ distorted perfection of the female form. Unobtainable classicism, inheriting a historic political lineage upon both the visual and physical.

For the woman artist the political becomes personal. Taking at times, as the subjective form, ones own persona. With that explicitly scrutinizing the self and inner psyche. An excercise that can become psychologically sensitive. Distorting my own historical presence. I am also interested in the male as a site for visual expression. And, how does this change perceptions of passivity when painted by a female.

The artist creates an alter ego in her own image, responding not only to the flesh but the intellectual content of an image. I create an uncomfortable likeness within a classical setting, confusing and questioning the viewer. There is a contradictory element of inviting the viewer to enter the intamacy of the painting then in turn questioning the validity of their intrusion.

As stated the manipulation of the female nude is foremost in my practice, both aestheticaly and contextualy. I am also interested by colour, form and the thematics of the past. One cannot fail to be consumed by the richness and vibrancy of the compositions and the sensuous feel to the depth of painting found in the likes of the Renaissance and Mannerists. This I set out to emanate but bring into modernity.

1998 Solo Exhibition, Grange Arts Centre, Oldham, England UK

2002 Astley Open, Astley Hall, Chorley, Lancashire, England, UK

2002 MA Painting Graduate Show, University of Hull, Scarborough, England, UK

2003 Astley Open, Astley Hall, Chorley, Lancashire, England, UK

2004 ‘People Matters’, Black Sheep Gallery, Hawarden, North Wales, UK

2004 ‘Subjugation to Rebellio’, Solo Exhibition, Stockport Art Gallery,England, UK

2004 Wrexham Open, Wrexham Arts Centre, North Wales, UK

2004 ‘The Melancholic Weaver of Whiles’, Solo Exhibition, The Portico Library & Art Gallery, Manchester City Centre, England, UK

2005 Solo Exhibition, The Calouste Gulbenkian Gallery, Newcastle, England, UK

2005 Birmingham Ladyfest Festival, eNGLAND, UK

2005 West Lancashire Open, Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, England, UK

2005 Chichester Open Art Exhibition, West Sussex. 1st PRIZE AWARDED

2006 Shrewsbury Open Art Exhibition, UK. FINALIST

2007 ‘Images of The Divine’, Orleans House Gallery, Twickenham, London, UK

2008 The Womens Art Show 2008, Fairfields Arts Centre, Basingstoke, London, UK

2008 ‘New Blood’, The International Gallery, Liverpool, England, UK

Previews & Interviews

9th Nov 2005 Manchester Evening News

16th Nov2005 West Sussex Observer Newspaper

2nd Nov 2005 Oldham Advertiser Newspaper

15th May 2005 Oldham Advertiser Newspaper
‘More Strokes of Genius from Tracy’
Anne Richardson

2nd Sept 2004 Manchester Metro Newspaper

Feb/March 2004 The Stockport Diary
‘ Contemporary Slant on the Female Psyche’

31st Aug 2004 BBC ONLINE Feature Interview
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