Emma Cousin was born in Yorkshire in 1986. She gained her BA from The Ruskin School of Art in 2004-2007. Cousin is a draw-er and a painter working in Peckham, London. Cousin’s figurative paintings feature dynamic, carnivalesque scenarios that explore the space between realism and fantasy, felt experience and communication. Interested in exploring the normative tensions within contemporary society, her contrapuntal compositions, colourful bodily extensions and awkwardly precise drawing acts out alternatives, led by a formal and diagrammatic logic. Responding to the limitations of language, Cousin considers how we might interact without it, in pre- or post-linguistic states. Painting ideas of support, mobility and progress, she often initially responds to words, in drawings that highlight puns and linguistic playfulness whilst breaking down meaning. Using metaphor as a visual vehicle she demonstrates the breach between the figurative meaning and the literal application.
Education
Ruskin School of Fine Art, Oxford University BA Hons.2004-2007
Skowhegan School of Painting. June-Aug 2018
Exhibitions
2021
Game Face. Solo show. Niru Ratnam Gallery. Sept-Dec
Superbloom. Group show. Brooke Benington Gallery. Milan. Sept
She Came to Stay. Group show. Andrea Festa Fine Art. Rome. Jan - July
Introductions. White Cube. Jan - March
Drawing Biennial. Drawing Room. May - July
2020
New Dirt. Solo show as part of Solos at Goldsmiths CCA Gallery. Sept - Dec
Ridiculous. Group show. Elephant west. January
Outlines. Group show. Austin Desmond gallery. February - March
Soft bodies. Group show. Castlefield gallery, Manchester. March - May
2019
Survey. Jerwood Arts. Survey Show. G39 Cardff, Bluecoats Gallery Liverpool & Baltic & Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead
Flumblelovelifekisturbingandflexy. Group Show. ASC London
Absinthe. Group Show. London
Ultra. Group show. J Hammond Projects. London
Creekside selected by Brian Griffiths. APT Gallery London
The Ruth Borchard Collection Self-Portrait Prize. Piano Nobile. London
Sigma Sigma Sigma. Solo show. Milton Keynes Art Centre
2018
Solo show. Mardy. Edel Assanti, London
Between Bodies. Group show. Assembly House Leeds
Survey. Jerwood Gallery. London. October – Dec 2018. Touring Nationally
Wasp. Group show. Hannah Barry Gallery, London
Solo Show. Leg Up. Lewisham Arthouse. London
Making Painting: A survey. Touring show. Germany and London
2017
Painting Vol 1. Group exhibition. CGK Gallery, Copenhagen
Solo show. Aids to living. Dolph Projects. London
Two person show. Mudhook. Tintype Gallery, London
Strangelands. Group Exhibition. Collyer Bristow Gallery, London
Silk Room. Group Exhibition. House of St Barnabus, London
Missing you already. White Conduit Projects. London
Making a mark. Arthouse1 Gallery. London
Collections
Ash Foundation, Lebanon. 2021
Museum Azman, Malaysia. 2021
W Art Foundation, China. 2021
Zuzeum Museum, Riga. 2021
Samoan Art Foundation, Bangladesh. 2021
Zabludowicz Collection. London. 2019
Art Institute Siena. 2012
Wales museum of Modern Art. 2012
St Hilda’s College Oxford. 2007
Awards
Survey Award 2019
Marmite Painting Prize Winner. 2016
Residencies
Skowhegan School of Painting. Maine USA. June-Aug 2018
Artist in Residence Wimbledon College of Art. Oct-Dec 2016
Teaching
Tutor. The Art Academy. Foundation Programme. 2018- ongoing
Visiting lecturer, Sotheby’s Institute, London. 2015- present