Selina Snow

I have always been fascinated by cross-cultural juxtapositions which, with my love of traveling,
is depicted in my work. Having lived and worked in Paris and Sydney, I was introduced to a huge melting pot of Asian cultures, instigating a series of visits to Japan, absorbing myself in both street to culinary culture. Spanish still life paintings from the 15-18th century such as Cotan, Zurbaran, and Velazquez, with the seemingly incongruous ingredients placed next to one another, have been influential in my work, as has Wayne Thiebaud’s cake pictures and the decorative aspect of Matisse’s paintings. In 1994 I started working at Books for Cooks in London. This enabled me to research the historical aspect of food behind the paintings. Margaret Visser’s fascinating account of “The Rituals of Dinner” fed my passion for making pictures, and being surrounded by cook books made me recreate the dishes so you could eat them as well as have them on the wall. From 1996-99 I lived in Sydney, working part time in a gallery which introduced me to a wide contemporary art scene. On my return to London I set up a gallery space in my fathers studio, who, after having retired from Theatre Design, had space available. We set about showcasing young Australian, Asian artists as well as recent graduates. Unfortunately in 2002 my father became seriously ill with dementia and we were unable to keep the gallery open. After initially exhibiting continuously, setting up a gallery and my father’s illness, I have concentrated on building a new studio in the countryside. Since 2006 I have been working on a series of Black Ink and Plaka pictures on paper after Hogarth, based on the demise of family life. A recent trip to southern India has re-ignited a new series of more seemingly joyous pictures and is linked with the works on paper.

Curriculum Vitae

Born: 1965
Nationality: Australian/British

Education
1991-1993 Slade School of Art (M.A ), London
1985-1988 Bristol Polytechnic (B.A )
1987 Ecoles des Beaux Arts, Aix en Provence, France
1983-1984 Camberwell School of Art, London

Awards
1990 Princes Trust "Go Ahead" Grant ,Studio in Paris
1989 Princes Trust "Go & See" Grant, researching galleries Paris
1988 Bristol Polytechnic Award for Fine Art

Sponsorship
2001 Asahi Beer & Yo Sushi (London)
2000 Dorado Records & shepherd Love (London)
1999 Japan Foundation (Sydney)
1997 Bel Mondo, Bilsons, B & J. Lizzard, Ippon Sushi, Simon Johnson Sweet William & Stolichnaya (Sydney)

Solo Exhibitions
2001-2003 Snow gallery, London
1999 The Japan Cultural Centre, Sydney
1998 Art House Gallery, Sydney
1997 Art House Gallery, Sydney
1996 Danielle Arnaud, London. Liberty Plc, London
1994-1995 Books for cooks, London
1991 WKD Gallery, London
1989 Black Bull Gallery, London

Group Exhibitions
2006 Lloyds Bank, Salisbury
2003-2004 Talisman, Gillingham. Maureen Epsley, London
2001-2003 Snow Gallery, London
1998 Smith & Stoneley, Brisbane. Orange Regional Gallery, Orange. Danielle Arnaud, London
1998 Art House Gallery, Sydney
1996 Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London
1995 Christies, London
1994 Coode Adams Martin Associates, Benjamin Rhodes, London
1993 Sotheby's, London. Mossop Street Gallery, London Isis Gallery, Southend-on-Sea
1992 Guardian Art for Sale, London
1991 Black Bull Gallery, London. Royal Society of Artists, Bath
1990 A.P.R.E.C.A. (Projection Palais des Papes) Avignon, France.
Young Unknowns Gallery, London. The Contemporary Art Auction, Portobello Road, London
1989 Cafe Gallery, London
1988 Institute of Education, London
1986-1987 Royal West of England Academy, Bristol

Television
November 1997 Snapshots, ABC TV, Sydney
December 1996 TV Dinners, Ricochet Films for Channel 4, London
July 1989 Exposition 89, Le Cinq, Avignon
1993-1994 The Big Breakfast, Channel 4, London

Press
June 2001 Sydney Morning Herald
March 2002 The Week
November 1999 Vogue Living, Qantas Spirit, Campaign
February 1999 Vogue Living
November 1998 Domain, Sydney Morning Herald, What's On? The Sun Herald
February 1998 Vogue Entertaining
October 1997 Australian Gourmet Traveller, Vogue Australia
April 1997 The London Magazine
June 1997 Short Black, Sydney Morning Herald
December 1996 The Times
March 1996 The Sunday Telegraph, Croak, Islington Arts Factory Arts Magazine
April 1996 What's On in London
November 1992 The Guardian
October 1991 Interior Design
July 1988 The Face

Publications
1995-2006 One Year at Books for Cooks, Pryor Publications
1996 Restaurants, Delis & Take away's , Pryor publications
1996 TV dinners, Channel 4 Books, Boxtree
1998 Simon Johnson, Sydney

Collections
Books for Cooks; Bar Italia; Chelsea & Westminster Hospital; Coode Adams Martin; Dorado Records, London; The Japan Cultural Centre, Sydney; National Portrait Gallery, Canberra; Simon Johnson, Sydney; Tetsuya Wakuda, Sydney; B & J Lizzard, Sydney; Earthquake Produce, San Francisco; Various Private Collections