Celia Hempton, born in 1981 in Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK, is a contemporary British artist renowned for her bold and innovative approach to painting and multimedia art. Hempton's work, which spans across painting, sound, and performance, is celebrated for its exploration of themes such as discomfort, vulnerability, and the human body, particularly focusing on gender, sexuality, and the dynamics of the gaze. Her artistic journey and contributions have positioned her as a significant figure in the contemporary art scene, both in the UK and internationally. Hempton's educational background laid a solid foundation for her artistic career. She embarked on her higher education journey at the Glasgow School of Art, where she pursued a BA in Fine Art, Painting, from 2000 to 2003. During her time at Glasgow, Hempton not only honed her skills in painting but also engaged in the music scene, playing in a band called I Love Lucy. This multidisciplinary engagement early in her career hints at her later explorations across various media. Following her undergraduate studies, Hempton moved to London, where she furthered her education with an MA in Painting at the prestigious Royal College of Art from 2005 to 2007. Her time at the Royal College of Art was instrumental in developing her unique voice and approach to art. Hempton's work is characterized by its fearless confrontation of taboo subjects and its challenge to traditional notions of the gaze, particularly the male gaze. One of her most notable series, 'Chat Random' (2014–ongoing), exemplifies this approach. In this series, Hempton navigates the website Chatrandom.com to find live images of male genitalia, which she then paints using vibrant, artificial colors. The series, which began in 2014, includes works titled with the subject's country and the date of the encounter. Through 'Chat Random,' Hempton subverts the male gaze, using her position as a woman artist to confront and explore the taboo of depicting male nudity. Her paintings vary in size, sometimes mimicking the dimensions of a mobile or laptop screen, and other times expanding to a larger scale. This series was included in Omar Kholeif's exhibition 'Electronic Superhighway (2016-1966)' at the Whitechapel Gallery, highlighting its significance in the discourse on digital culture and the representation of the body. Beyond 'Chat Random,' Hempton's oeuvre includes a wide range of subjects, from landscapes to human models. Regardless of the subject matter, her paintings are marked by a pragmatic yet energetic desire to capture moments in time, often revealing the vulnerability and complexity of human desire and identity. Her work has been exhibited internationally across Europe, Asia, and North and South America, showcasing her global appeal and the universal relevance of her themes. Hempton's contributions to the field of contemporary art have been recognized through various awards and residencies, including the Civitella Ranieri Foundation residency in Umbria, Italy, in 2014, and the Sainsbury Scholarship in Painting at The British School at Rome, Italy, from 2008 to 2010. Additionally, she received the Neville Burston Memorial Award at the Royal College of Art, London, in 2007. In interviews and statements, Hempton has articulated her artistic philosophy, emphasizing the importance of creating situations through painting that transcend the act of painting itself. She is interested in nature, risk, and the prolonged observation of subjects that might initially provoke discomfort. Hempton's work is a continuous exploration of the boundaries of painting, performance, and digital media, making her one of the most compelling artists of her generation.

Celia Hempton Quotes and Sales of Works

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