Cassandra Agazzi Brooks was awarded Bath Open Art Prize’s Exhibition Opportunity at #FaB 2018 - 44AD artspace is delighted to present her solo show Elastic Self, running 8 Jan to 3 Feb 2019.

“A prize from a competition at the Fringe Arts Bath Festival to have a solo exhibition at 44AD artspace has given me a wonderful opportunity to gather my work together from the past year, and also an excuse to explore Bath more!”

“In thinking about my practice, which has been inspired by the multiple-faces of the alter-ego, from drag queens & bestial figures, to clowns, I began rethinking the illusion in painting and what my practice could conceal, and perhaps also reveal. in smothering a canvas with paint, or veiling a face with makeup, could there paradoxically be a revealing of a deeper human truth?”

“In taking advantage of the freedom of being at Plymouth College of Art, I began to break away from the flat surface of a stretched canvas and expand my painting towards a more sculptural form, creating the CLOD, which is made up of 42 large brightly painted hessian sacks, each loosely resembling a smiling clown face (children seem to be their biggest fans). I invite anyone visiting to ‘prod a CLOD’ but also to enjoy the variety of strange and comical painted characters that will be on show.”

C.A.Brooks 2018

Brooks is based in Plymouth, she graduated from an MA in Painting at Plymouth College of Art in 2018, and studied Fine Art Painting at Brighton University from 2007 to 2010. www.cassandraagazzibrooks.co.uk

‘Elastic Self’ exhibition is at 44ad artspace, 4 Abbey Street, Bath BA1 1NN, from 8 Jan to 3 Feb 2019, free entry, open 2pm - 6pm  (Sun 1pm - 4pm). www.44ad.net

A huge thank you to our friends at 44ad artspace for offering the Exhibition Opportunity prize, and for all their support.

The Exhibition Opportunity is your chance to win a solo exhibition in 44ad's basement gallery.

Part of the Bath Open Art Prize, currently accepting submissions until 26 April 2019.

Open to visual artists working in any medium, the prize welcomes works in all genres including painting, print, photography, 3D and video, small site specific installations can also be considered. Developed as part of Fringe Arts Bath (FaB), the Bath Open Art Prize is now in its 9th year. Alongside the established traditions the prize welcomes more idiosyncratic and whimsical works that reflect FaB’s open approach. The prizes are:

1st prize £250 sponsored by Andrews Property

2nd prize £100 sponsored by Society Café

People's Choice £50 art vouchers, sponsored by Minerva Arts Supplies

Exhibition Opportunity sponsored by 44ad Artspace: a solo exhibition in 44ad's basement gallery

Selected works exhibited at 44ad artspace during FaB Festival 2019 #FaB19 

Visit www.bathopenartprize.co.uk to find out more about the judges, awards and how to enter.