Oxmarket are delighted to welcome Nina Troitzky and Gaila Clarke Hall for a 2 week exhibition in the Wilson Gallery during February.

Nina Troitzky - Nina is the daughter of a Russian emigré and born in Yugoslavia. She moved to England in 1953 and studied at the Leeds College of Art before going onto icon painting with Ira Kvastowctz undertaking many commissions in the UK and America. After a period of of painting in the Dutch still life manner Nina studied at the Chelsea School of Art with John Watson and Jo McGill. She has shown in many exhibitions.  

Nina’s art practice is based on experimentation investigating the properties of chosen materials – the aim of the work is to address concepts of fragmentation, layering and repetition with the intention of questioning assumed notions of perception. Concepts of her work embrace installation, drawing, printing photography and three dimensional works.

Her most recent work is inspired by ancient art cave discoveries – raising the question whether art is inherent condition of human existence.

Gaila Clarke Hall - Gaila originally studied sculpture at Camberwell Art School, attended the Brera in Milan, did stone carving in Florence and taught sculpture briefly at the Betzalel Art School in Jerusalem.  Latterly she has taken up ceramics, exhibiting in Open Studios, Art trails and Physic Garden exhibitions.  Her ceramics have been shown at Gallery 57 and are currently on show at the Flock Gallery in Kington.

Gaila says ‘Handbuilding ceramics is a slow, calm process rooted in silence.  I’ve no idea what will emerge as I start on the process.  In the hands of the moment, whatever that is, a rhythm develops between intention and chance.  The increasing disconnection from physical reality gives the tangible, three dimensional, language greater meaning.  Making forms out of the mess of clay increases my love of simplicity and prehistoric art.  Hands and tools leave marks that resemble ancient calligraphies which take me back into time, connecting me with the cave paintings and rock art of our beginnings whose art inspires me’. 

Gaila makes simple bowls and taller forms, flat or rotund, which can be used as vases for branches or grasses.  Her pots are unglazed and most are porous.  The open and closed forms create different feelings: a sense of containment or expansiveness, of emptiness or solidity.