Emma Cousin (b. Yorkshire, 1986) is a painter and drawer based in London.
Painting ideas of support, mobility and progress, she uses metaphor as a visual vehicle to demonstrate the breach between the figurative meaning and the literal application.
Often starting with a piece of wordplay, which sparks an imagistic response Cousin moves through literal, comedic, cartoon, psychological and imaginary visualisations and interpretations. This ideation expands into paintings that feature figures engaged in what might look like private puzzles, relationships or forms of communication. Her contrapuntal compositions, colourful bodily extensions and awkwardly precise drawing acts out alternatives. Her drawings highlight puns and linguistic playfulness whilst breaking down meaning. Her works respond to the way language is structured, how it is used by and in the body and what happens when it fails.
Physical information from personal experience, study of anatomy and somatic practises, inform her characters. In a system of bodies, built led by a formal and diagrammatic logic, these avatars feature dynamic, carnivalesque scenarios that explore the space between realism and fantasy, past and future, felt experience and everyday interaction.
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