Bio, education & exhibitions
Katy Papineau (b.1991) is a figurative painter who lives and works in London. She graduated in Philosophy from the University of Bristol in 2014, and completed The Drawing Year at The Royal Drawing School in 2019. Since graduating she has participated in artist residencies in France and Italy, and has taken part in group shows at Blue Shop Gallery, Christie’s London, Frestonian Gallery, and Compton Verney. She has her first solo exhibition at Blue Shop Gallery in July 2023. Papineau is part of the faculty at the Royal Drawing School, where her teaching focuses on symbolism, memory and imagination.
Papineau’s practice encompasses drawing, painting and printmaking. Colour is an essential vehicle through which she conveys emotion and atmosphere, working instinctively in thin layers of paint and pigment. These layers combine to result in a subtle complexity of colour, pattern and texture. Papineau’s process involves a wealth of references. Initially guided by a loosely defined area of interest, she begins a body of work by collecting scraps from everyday life, film, literature, folklore and art history. These varied visual inputs combine to form ambiguous narrative paintings that make up Papineau’s distinctive visual universe.
Education
The Drawing Year, The Royal Drawing School, 2018-2019
BA Hons Philosophy, First Class Honours, The University of Bristol, 2010 - 2013
Exhibitions
2023
Papier, Delphian Gallery
A Poison Tree (solo exhibition), Blue Shop Gallery
Artist Focus, Wilder Gallery
2022
Portrait Artist of the Year: The Exhibition, Compton Verney
2021
Drawing a Line Under Torture, Sotheby’s
Ambrosia, Purslane
Bucolia, Blue Shop Cottage
In Dialogue Part I, Auc Art
Home, Homerwares
Works on Paper 3, Blue Shop Cottage
Life on Venus II, The Tub & The Auction Collective
The Greek Street Art Show 2, Maison Bertaux
Katy Papineau, Auc Art
2020
Works on Paper, The Artistellar
Works on Paper 2, Blue Shop Cottage
The Art Register, Sophie Breitmeyer
Katy Papineau, All Mouth Gallery
Summer Show 2020, Royal Drawing School
Reaction in Seclusion
Curated for Covid
Miniature Masterpieces, The Edition Shop
Works On Paper, Frestonian Gallery
2019
Drawing Year Open Studios at Space Studios
Drawing Year End of Year Exhibition at the Royal Drawing School
Best of the Drawing Year, Christie’s London
The Greek Street Art Show, Maison Bertaux
2017-2018
Drawn Together, Mercer Chance Gallery