We are excited to present the winner of Jackson’s Painting Prize 2020. Congratulations to Manchester based artist Ruth Murray who has been awarded the main prize of £5000 for her painting, Geraniums. We look forward to finding out more about Ruth’s work, inspirations and creative processes.
“I am absolutely delighted to have won the Jackson’s Painting Prize. It’s a huge privilege and honour. The prize means a great deal, particularly in these uncertain times. It will go a long way in supporting my practice.”
Geraniums, 2018
Ruth Murray
Oil on canvas, 180 x 160 cm
“My paintings are about the experiences of women – most of my paintings are of women in a scene. It’s the hidden thoughts and the psychology of the situation that interest me most. I use pattern and light to transform ordinary, tangible objects into pliable masses and ugly squiggles. I am excited by light and colour, which paint serves best, and love how the playfulness of this can, paradoxically, add a sort of melancholy to the thing it’s depicting.
My iconography is developed from everyday stories, places and faces, but also makes use of elements from older visual languages and across the boundaries between ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture. Sometimes I’ll confront the viewer with enigmatic behaviours (there’s always something private and inaccessible about the subjects); and at other times I’ll use rituals, symbols and tokens to disrupt the reading of the image. It’s not a radical effect: more a gentle skewing. Sometimes it’s the slightest gesture that feels most significant.
Geraniums is set in the greenhouse of my neighbours garden, that I grew up next door to. Those are the trees of my childhood memories. I often return home to stage my scenes, that is my place of play.”
Ruth Murray in her Manchester studio
Photo credit: Lāsma Poiša
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That is an exceptionally good painting by a very talented artist!
An amazing painting and a slight
coincidence. I was taking photographs in
my daughters garden when she went into
the green house. The thought hit me that it
might make a good picture but she dashed
out again and the moment was lost.
Congratulations Ruth you deserve the prize.
Fantastic painting. Colours are great and its
a great motif. Congratulations, Ruth
A worthy winner. A very beautiful painting with lots of interest
A worthy winner what an amazing
picture with the contrast of the quiet
cool of the night against the warmth and
busyness of the greenhouse. Well done.
Impressive, un-fashionable work! A
delight to see such a work chosen.
An amazing subject – not quite knowing where to look is part of the fun and energy she puts into her work. Well done!
Wow! That is a very worthy winner. Well done
indeed to Ruth. Astonishingly accomplished
and thoughtful work.
Thank you very much for sharing your
incredible talent,your work takes my breath
away.
I love that painting! Good choice. It is
real yet mysterious. Evocative. A world I
am drawn to. The shape of the
greenhouse lit up in the darkness, is like
a door to another world.
I could stare at Geraniums for hours and still
be delighted by the details. And the use of
light! Oh my god- stunning. Congrats Ruth!
A well deserved winner and one I voted for in
the people’s choice. Congratulations Ruth.
Great painting Ruth. You have put a lot of
effort into that work.
Wonderful piece of work Ruth and a very
well-deserved prize. Thank you.
Las pinturas logran una atmósfera
envolvente e Intima
Amazing detail and love the light and shade.
Very talented. Congrats Ruth, well deserved.