Work of Chantal Joffe celebrated in major solo exhibition at The Lowry

The Lowry arts centre in Salford is preparing to open a major exhibition by the acclaimed figurative painter, Chantal Joffe, Royal Academician, this summer.

The Squid and the Whale, 2017 Oil on board 214 x 152 cm 84 1/4 x 59 7/8 in  © Chantal Joffe  Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

The Squid and the Whale, 2017 Oil on board 214 x 152 cm 84 1/4 x 59 7/8 in © Chantal Joffe Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

Personal Feeling is the Main Thing will open on 19 May as part of The Lowry’s biennial Week 53 festival (17 – 28 May) and will run until 2 September. It will feature around 50 paintings from throughout Joffe’s career.

Chantal Joffe brings a combination of insight and integrity, as well as psychological and emotional force, to the genre of figurative art. In her depiction of women or girls, sometimes in groups but recently in iconic portraits, she explores themes including the transition from childhood to adolescence and motherhood.

The works confront the physicality of the human body and the complexities of human emotions in a remarkable combination of clarity, honesty and empathetic warmth.

Shown alongside will be works, selected by Joffe, by the German expressionist painter Paula Modersohn-Becker (1876-1907). Modersohn-Becker died shortly after giving birth to her first child, at the age of 31. Today, she is recognised as being among the first female artists to paint a nude self-portrait and, later, a series of self-portraits while she was pregnant.

Personal Feeling is the Main Thing runs from 19 May – 2 September 2018. Plan your visit at thelowry.com/Chantal-Joffe.

My Mother with Fern, 2017. Copyright: Chantal Joffe  Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

My Mother with Fern, 2017. Copyright: Chantal Joffe Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

Esme in a Yellow Dress, 2016 Oil on canvas 35.6 x 25.2 x 2.1 cm 14 1/8 x 9 7/8 x 7/8 in  © Chantal Joffe  Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

Esme in a Yellow Dress, 2016 Oil on canvas 35.6 x 25.2 x 2.1 cm 14 1/8 x 9 7/8 x 7/8 in © Chantal Joffe Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

Poppy, Esme, Oleanna, Gracie and Kate, 2014 Oil on canvas 40 x 80 x 3.5 cm 15 3/4 x 31 1/2 x 1 3/8 in  © Chantal Joffe  Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

Poppy, Esme, Oleanna, Gracie and Kate, 2014 Oil on canvas 40 x 80 x 3.5 cm 15 3/4 x 31 1/2 x 1 3/8 in © Chantal Joffe Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

Self-Portrait Pregnant (2), 2004 Oil on board 29.2 x 21.8 x 1.2 cm 11 1/2 x 8 5/8 x 1/2 in  © Chantal Joffe  Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

Self-Portrait Pregnant (2), 2004 Oil on board 29.2 x 21.8 x 1.2 cm 11 1/2 x 8 5/8 x 1/2 in © Chantal Joffe Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

Esme with a Striped Blanket, 2008 oil on canvas 30 x 30 cms 11.82 x 11.82 inches  © Chantal Joffe  Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

Esme with a Striped Blanket, 2008 oil on canvas 30 x 30 cms 11.82 x 11.82 inches © Chantal Joffe Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

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