Unveiling of the Conversation Piece commission at Oxford University. I was invited for House Supper and drinks to celebrate the unveiling of this 'Conversation Piece' artwork I painted and to make a speech. This artwork was commissioned by the Jesuits at Campion Hall, Oxford University, to commemorate the first five female dons to be elected to the College. My next projects were discussed and it was a pleasure to chat with historian Diarmaid MacCulloch and also Revd Dr Nick Austin.
My next exhibition will be 9-15 December 2024, at 54 The Gallery, Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London.
Image showing my last exhibition there in August 2020, early on at the Private View. Painting visible through the window is ‘Dreams Of Tomorrow’.
I was recently asked to pen something for an American blogger as a guest writer. This is the result. You can read the full copy here: https://cowboysfromspace.wordpress.com/2023/09/10/william-oxer-on-art-making-art-questioning-everything/
The award of an RSA grant, following a submitted proposal to fund a series of workshops at the Expressions Art Studio, has enabled me to work with people who are supported through Milestones Trust .
This offers a unique opportunity for us to express the creative self through art and enable those involved to show their work at the festival in July.
This project aims to re-connect people who have been significantly isolated during as creatives in their local communities.
Producing portraits offers a connection to self, perception, and image, to present to the outside world with the goal of reducing stigma about mental health within communities, through offering positive experiences and to normalise mental health through the expression of self in art.
Our sessions are focused on portrait painting and explore famous portrait paintings and styles, resulting in a series of portraits that represent us in our current post pandemic landscape to be exhibited at the Expressions Arts festival July 22nd, 2022, at Paintworks, Bristol.
The Royal Society for Arts, manufactures and commerce are a fellowship committed to a future that works for everyone. A future where all can participate in its creation.
The RSA has been at the forefront of significant social impact for over 260 years with a proven change process, rigorous research, innovative ideas platforms and diverse global community of over 30,000 problem-solvers, deliver solutions for lasting change. The RSA champion curiosity, creativity, and courage to inspire better ways of thinking and doing, which mirrors the values of the Expressions studio and Milestones Trust.
Follow the links below for more on what Milestones and the RSA do.
https://www.thersa.org/projects
https://www.milestonestrust.org.uk
One of Napoleon III’s ambitions was to reconcile France with England, to create a bond of kinship that would benefit both countries in the centuries ahead.
After a successful visit to London by Napoleon in April 1855, Queen Victoria travelled to France in a return visit, in a trip that began in Paris and culminated in a lavish Ball at the Palace of Versailles, attended by over 1,000 guests.
The Ball was a great success and contributed to the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two nations, paving the way for the first Entente Cordiale, which has stood the test of time until today.
In 2022, marking 167 years since Queen Victoria’s visit to Versailles, a spectacular Ball will be held at the Palace of Versailles.
This once-in-a-lifetime event will pay homage to Napoleon III’s original event and will once again bring together British and French cultures within the magnificent setting of the Palace of Versailles.
The Royal Versailles Ball will be held in aid of Unicef UK, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Street Child, three registered charities that fund educational development programmes for some of the world’s most vulnerable children and communities.
As part of the fundraising for the RVB nominated charities, I am contributing a prize to the Bonham’s charity auction, of a painting to be commissioned by the winner.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/TheRVBall/
Napoleon himself famously disliked sitting for portraits, despite several capturing key historical moments in his life, but he believed that a portrait should capture the character and attitude of a person in a moment, as much as the physical likeness. I am in agreement and am looking forward greatly to this event.
I am pleased to have been chosen by the RSA as one of their SW’s grants scheme recipients for an arts project to support Milestones Trust, a social care charity-based Bristol, that supports people with on-going mental health conditions.
I am offering a series of portrait workshops, for people using services to represent themselves as citizens in the wider community and not hidden behind care home systems.
There will be a local photographer also capturing the making and people for a photography portfolio running alongside the portrait painting development.
This aims to represent the real faces of our community that often go unseen or are hidden from mainstream society. The project goal is to give people living in care homes a sense of self as well as developing confidence, relationships, skills, and appreciation for how art can improve lives. These portraits will be exhibited in the Expressions gallery at Milestones Arts festival, due to take place between 22nd and 26th July 2022.
The festival is located within the events space at Paintworks, Bristol, UK, with music and various events on the main stage, poetry, crafts and pop-up workshops and activities, alongside a large-scale contemporary art exhibition.
All events are free for the public to attend.
With thanks to the RSA Southwest and Milestones Trust for supporting this important project.
