Sara Lavelle (b. 1995) is an award winning London-based artist. Lavelle has exhibited in significant museums, galleries and fairs both in the in the UK and internationally. Lavelle was finalist of Sky Art's televised series Portrait Artist of the Year 2019. She has artwork in private collections Soho House and University of Cambridge and has been featured in numerous publications including BBC News, Channel 4, and Wallpaper* magazine.
Drawing upon a fascination with human psychology, philosophy and spirituality, her work has a predominant focus on figuration. Approaching her paintings with delicacy and care, Lavelle seeks to capture the fundamental essence of a person using soft colours and a gentle application of paint. There is a stillness in her pieces that makes space for intimacy and contemplation between the viewer and the painted figure.
Exhibitions:
2022, Intimate Moments (solo show), Rathbone Place, London
2022, Portrait Artist of the Year, Compton Verney Art Gallery, Warwickshire
2022, Art on a Postcard, The Other Art Fair, London
2021, No.1, Morgans, Falmouth
2021, The Auction Collective Top 100 - Live Auction, The Department Store, London
2021, Dogo Totale Relationen + Risiken, Stadtufer, Lichtensteig
2020, Seemingly Unfinished, OnCurating Project Space, Zurich
2020, Painting Now, London Atelier of Representational Art, London
2020, Tender, Deptford Does Art, London
2020, ASC Open Studios, ASC Brixton, London
2019, The anonymous heART project, Heart Research UK, Leeds
2019, A Year On; Winner of Rising Talent Exhibition 2018, Hastings Art Forum, Hastings
2019, Charity Auction, IMARA, Nottingham
2019, Residency Showcase, Cyprus College of Art, Cyprus
2019, Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London.
2019, The Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 Exhibition, Clarendon Fine Art Gallery, London.(Touring Exhibition 5th May - 23rd June - Whitewall Nottingham, Whitewall Newbury, Whitewall Stratford, Whitewall Chester, Whitewall Lichfield)
2018, Rising Talent, Hastings Art Forum, Hastings.
2018, In Cahoots, Truman Brewery, London.
2018, University of Brighton Graduate Show, University of Brighton, Brighton.
2017, (Shortlisted) Royal Society of Portrait Artists Annual Exhibition, Mall Gallery, London.
2016, Collections, University of Brighton, Brighton.
2016, Falmouth Summer Shows, Wellington Terrace Annexe, Falmouth
Residencies:
2021, Dogo Residenz für Neue Kunst, Lichtensteig
2019, Cyprus College of Art Artist Residency, Cyprus
Prizes and Shortlists:
2019, Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year Award (Finalist)
2019, The BP Portrait Award, The National Portrait Gallery (Preselected)
2018, ACS Studio Prize (Shortlisted - Final five artists)
2018, Public vote, Hastings Art Forum Rising Talent (Winner)
Collections:
2022, Cecconi’s Bicester Village, Soho House
2021, Shoreditch Soho Works, Soho House
2021, Soho Studio Brixton, Soho House
2021, Brighton Beach House, Soho House
2019, MacDonalds Institute of Archeology, University of Cambridge
2019, Cheltenham Ladies College Collection
2018, Grange Park Opera
Selected Press:
2022, Sara Lavelle: ‘Art is a gateway into understanding why the world is wonderful’, Whynow Magazine
2022, Face Value, Just Breath Magazine
2021, The Destination Gallery, Elle Decoration UK
2022, 10 Minutes with Sara Lavelle, Artists and Illustrators magazine
2019, Dorothy Garrod: Portrait of 'trailblazing' archaeologist unveiled, BBC News
2019, Portrait of first female Oxbridge professor unveiled, Cambridge Independent
2019, Graduate Directory, Wallpaper* Magazine
2018, Top Graduate Interview, University of Brighton Blog
2018, ACS Studio Prize, Artists’ Collecting Society
2018, Top Prize Nomination for Brighton Artist, University of Brighton Blog
Broadcast:
2022, Storyvault Films, Sky Arts, Portrait Artist of the Year: The Exhibition, UK
2019, Barcroft Studios, Channel 4, Flawless, UK
2019, Storyvault Films, Sky Arts, Portrait Artist of the Year Series 6, UK