Overview

Alice Irwin: Chinwag marks a significant moment in Alice Irwin’s career as her first major exhibition in a London-based public gallery. Occupying the contemporary space of Pitzhanger Gallery, her exhibition is part of Pitzhanger’s ongoing programme focused on introducing new works and emerging artists to audiences in West London and beyond.

Over the past three years, Irwin has created a new series characterised by movement and layering of vibrant colours and animated forms. These artworks invite viewers into a safe and positive space for a conversation, where playful creativity blurs the lines between print, sculpture, and drawing. Chinwag reflects Irwin’s interest in themes of social interaction and the human experience.

The exhibition presents an array of Irwin’s new works, including colourful, multi-layered screenprints and etchings, complemented by sketches and preparatory studies that offer insights into her meticulous creative process. Drawing inspiration from Pitzhanger’s history as Sir John Soane’s country residence, where he entertained guests, customers and close friends, Irwin’s artworks playfully question the social norms of Soane’s era. Through the diverse shapes, sizes, and colours of Irwin’s cast of characters, the exhibition presents a dialogue on the range of personalities in social gatherings and the evolution of social structures and hierarchies over time.

The exhibition highlights Irwin’s innovative use of materials, as seen in her Peeps, a series of human-like 3D figures. Previously displayed outdoors at Trinity Buoy Wharf in 2022, these figures represent a bold exploration of form and colour. The exhibition at Pitzhanger will feature two newly commissioned Peeps in brushed metal, showcasing her evolution in sculptural experimentation. This exhibition is curated by Svetlana Panova.