Gee Vaucher

In Autumn 2016 Firstsite, Colchester’s pre-eminent gallery for contemporary art, will host a retrospective of the work of Gee Vaucher, which will be curated by Stevphen Shukaitis and Gavin Grindon. Gee Vaucher is an internationally renowned political artist, known for her ‘radical creativity’, montages, and iconic record sleeve artwork for the famous anarchist-pacifist band Crass.

Vaucher has always seen her work as a tool for social change, using surrealist styles and methods, and a DIY aesthetic to create powerful images exploring political and personal issues. Gee Vaucher who has been working as an artist in the UK since the 1960’s is yet to have a major retrospective of her work in a UK public institution.

This exhibition will re-affirm her position as a counter-cultural artistic force whose influence on local, national and international visual art and cross-disciplinary contexts deserves to be explored. The exhibition will celebrate the rich history of art and activism both on a local and national level. It will not only look back to the radical spirit of the 60s, 70s and 80s, but is also an opportunity to engage audiences in important social debates taking place today.

Taking a focus on art’s power to reflect on, contribute to and inform public debate, this is an opportunity to explore challenging work, which is highly accessible and thought provoking due to the social issues it covers. Vaucher will receive an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Essex in July 2016, to celebrate her Essex roots, recognize the importance of her work, and reflect the radical past of the University, which it continues to celebrate as ‘the Essex Spirit’.

The Exitstencil Press site promises: “Lots more news and events as the show comes together.”