Annie Kevans

Annie Kevans (born Cannes, France) is an English artist. She was named number 19 in Harper's Bazaar magazine's "Forty Under 40" chart of hot new British talent, September 2007 [ [http://www.anniekevans.com/index.php?Press:Harper%27s_Bazaar_Sept_07:40_under_40 Annie Kevans London based artist, - 40 under 40 ] ] and was named number 32 in New Woman magazine’s "Brit Hit List" and was described as the "new Tracey Emin". [Taken from New Woman 'The Brit Hit List' magazine article, July 2006.] She paints with bright oils and vivid brushwork.

Education and work 2004 - 2007

Kevans took her BA at Central St Martins College of Art and Design (1999 - 2004). While studying at St Martins, Kevans worked at the V&A Museum of Childhood in London's East End. [Interview quote of Annie Kevans interviewed by Francesca Martin, taken from Harper's Bizarre magazine, 2007.] The 30 paintings from the series "Boys", from her BA Degree show, were bought in their entirety by Charles Saatchi in 2004. [Figure and information taken from Evening Standard article 'In Search Of The Next Big Thing' published 23 May 2007] These paintings showed 20th Century tyrants, dictators and war criminals such as Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot and Radovan Karadzic as wide-eyed toddlers. Kevans expressed pleasure at the sale: "I was pleased because it was a BA show and he normally only goes to MA shows. I'm hoping that it will be shown at the new gallery. I know he has had it framed, because I was asked to go and chose a frame with him, but I was too scared". [http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article355355.ece Quote from "The Independent" newspaper article " Unknown artist's exhibition illustrates the enduring influence of Charles Saatchi" 2006]

Her second series, "Girls", exhibited at London's Studio 1.1 gallery in 2006 was an installation of a girl's bedroom complete with bed, a lampshade, teddy bears and other childhood toys and memorabilia. Kevans' brightly coloured painting of Shirley Temple hung on the wall above the bed. [http://www.anniekevans.com/index.php?Exhibitions_%26amp%3B_Events:Past:Girls Description of the exhibition, photo of which can be seen at Anniekevans.com]

She has painted child stars such as Britney Spears and Doreen Tracey as Mouseketeers from their childhood days working for Disney's Mickey Mouse Club TV show. These paintings include the girls dressed up in the iconic Mickey Mouse ears.

Kevans' next series, entitled "Swans", shown in June 2007 at 319 Portobello Road, focused on the 'American Dream' and included an image of Jessica Dubroff, a seven-year old pilot who, encouraged by her parents to become the youngest person to achieve a solo-flight across the Atlantic, tragically plunged to her death mid-flight. [http://www.artworkproductions.net Information sourced from the press release for Kevans' "Swans" exhibition from Art Work Productions] She was, "Inspired by an American makeover programme called "The Swan" where women of low self esteem are transformed by plastic surgery. For me it exemplifies societies obesession with youth and beauty." [Interview quote of Annie Kevans interviewed by Francesca Martin, taken from Harper's Bizarre magazine, 2007.]

All 27 paintings in the "Swans" exhibition sold out as soon as it opened and Kevans was therefore able to give up her day job as a secretary to focus on her art full-time. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/06/05/bamarketnews.xml The Telegraph arts news]

Her "One Child" series (2005) looked at China's 'One Child' policy which forces many families to have only one child in order to keep China's population growth under control. "Gods and Aliens" (2004) looked at the human need to believe.

One of Kevans’ paintings appeared on "Have I Got News For You" in late April 2007. [http://www.artworkproductions.net/ Named number 32 in New Woman’s‘Brit Hit List’, one of Kevans’ paintings will be appearing on ‘Have I Got News For You’ in late April.]

In September 2007, Kevans exhibited a new series of paintings she'd been working on called "Vamps and Innocents", for a solo show in Vienna, based on the silent films of the 1920s and its stars. The entire show sold out in its first week. Kevans said,

Fellow artists Marc Quinn and Stella Vine are noted as being fans of her paintings. [ [http://www.anniekevans.com/?Press:Harper%27s_Bazaar%26nbsp%3BJul_07 Annie Kevans London based artist, - Harper's Bazaar Jul 07 ] ]

In October 2007, Annie Kevans was shortlisted for a "Women Of The Future" award in the "Art and Culture Woman of the Future" category. [ [http://www.womenofthefuture.co.uk/(o4smf5ryptoffc45t120ie55)/show.aspx?channelID=639 Women Of The Future ] ]

olo Exhibitions

* "Vamps and Innocents" at Galleria Antonio Ferrara, Vienna, Austria (September 2007)
*"Swans" at 319 Portobello Road, London, UK (1 - 23 June 2007)
* "Girls" at Studio 1.1, 57a Redchurch Street, London, UK (7 April - 7 May 2006)

Collections

*Saatchi Collection, UK
*Jean Pigozzi, US
*Gaddi Collection, Italy
*Private collections, UK and international

References

External links

* [http://www.anniekevans.com Annie Kevans' official website]
* [http://www.naimad.co.uk/studio1-1/kevans/images.html Annie Kevans' "Girls" images at Studio 1.1]
* [http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/blogon/2007/06/laura_k_jones_on_annie_kevans_2.php Laura K Jones reviews Kevans' show "Swans" in 2007]
* [http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article355355.ece The Independent newspaper article about Kevans and Charles Saatchi, 2006]
* [http://foggygrizzly.blogspot.com/2007/01/interview-with-annie-kevans.html Interview with Annie Kevans at Foggy Grizzly web blog]
* [http://www.womenofthefuture.co.uk/(ckyxe155fhhqzszl5empqr45)/show.aspx?channelID=639 Annie Kevans nominated at Women Of The Future awards 2007]

Persondata
NAME = Kevans, Annie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = English artist
DATE OF BIRTH = ,
PLACE OF BIRTH = Cannes, France
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =