April 22–May 21, 2022
Steve Turner is pleased to present Playing With Fire, a solo exhibition by London-based Ania Hobson featuring recent self-portraits that relate to emotional explosiveness. Hobson uses fire to symbolize this charged feeling, and it appears in most of the paintings, whether in a metal trash barrel, a candle, a cigarette or a lighter—and in the most extreme case, upon the artist’s nude body. Most of the paintings include fiery words (fire, burn, heat, smoke and hot), and in the one that does not, “Call Me Emotional,” Hobson reveals the most. Symbols and titles aside, Hobson’s brushwork—fast, decisive, and occasionally wild—also suggests heightened passion. Her use of red is likewise dramatic, but regardless of Hobson’s intensifications, her paintings remain believable. Emotional authenticity rather than factual accuracy is what Hobson values most.
Hobson (born 1990, Suffolk, United Kingdom) earned a BA at Ipswich University, Suffolk (2011) and later studied at the Royal Drawing School, London (2013) and Florence Academy of Art (2014). In 2018, she won the Young Artist BP Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, London. She had a solo exhibition at Setareh Gallery, Dusseldorf (2021) and has participated in numerous group exhibitions. Playing With Fire is Hobson’s solo exhibition at Steve Turner, Los Angeles and her first in the United States.
Born 1990, Suffolk, England
Lives and works in London
Education
2014
The Florence Academy of Art
2013
The Royal Drawing School, London
2011
BFA, Ipswich University, Suffolk
Solo Exhibitions
2022
Steve Turner, Los Angeles
2021
SETAREH Gallery, Düsseldorf
2020
Catto Gallery, London
2019
Mall Galleries Reception Collection, London
2018
Asylum Studios and Gallery, Rendlesham, England
2015
Aldeburgh Gallery, Aldeburgh, England
Group Exhibitions
2022
EXPO Chicago (with Steve Turner) Green Family Art Foundation, Dallas
2021
Ruttkowski;68, Cologne, Germany Phillips Auction
Gallery Func, Shanghai
Andrea Festa Fine Art, Rome
Thompson’s Gallery, London
2020
Thompsons Gallery, London
Cass Art Islington, London
MET Pavilion, New York
2019
National Portrait Gallery, London
Venice Biennale (with GAA Foundation)
Thompson’s Gallery, Aldeburgh
Eccleston Project Space, London
2018
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh
Linden Hall Studio, Kent, England
The Excellence of Youth, Aldeburgh
Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton, England
Thompson’s Gallery, Aldeburgh
Mall Galleries, London
Saul Hay Gallery, Manchester
Cass Art, London
Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich, England
2017
National Portrait Gallery, London Exeter City Gallery, London
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh
Mall Galleries, London
2016
Mall Galleries, London
Cambridge Guildhall, England
2015
The Quay Gallery, Snape Maltings, North Yorkshire, England
The Dorcester Hotel, London Drey Contemporary, Suffolk Mall Galleries, London
2014
Dorcester Hotel, London Stoke College, Stoke, England
2013
The Dorcester Hotel, London Halesworth, Suffolk
2012
The Dorcester Hotel, London
Wingfield Gallery, Suffolk
Aldeburgh Gallery, Suffolk
2011
Ipswich University, Suffolk
Residencies and Awards
2021
Artist Residency, Cob X PLOP Residency, London
2020
The Fores Project, London
2018 Young Artist Award, National Portrait Gallery, London
Bibliography
2022 Lindill, Jayne. “International Women’s Day: 40 fantastic Suffolk females,” Great British Life, March
Solomon-Brady, Harvey. “Ania Hobson: “I was so angry my painting just went RED’,” WhyNow, February
2021
Ghassemitari, Shawn. “Ania Hobson’s “I’ll See You” Now Open at SETAREH X,” Hypebeast, September
“Phillips Presents Sweet Jane in Fields of Daisies: A Special Online Selling Exhibition Celebrating Emerging Female Artists Curated by Joan Tucker,” ArtfixDaily, September
Well Groeneveld, Sophie. “Outside LA: “I See You” Ania Hobson,” Artillery Mag, September
“Portraits by Ania Hobson that look at our desire to escape a global pandemic,” Opera News, August
“On The Rise,” Art Plugged, July
Fresan, Jose. “The Millenial Portraits of Ania Hobson,” Alfalfa Studio, April
Hart, Abigail. “Ania Hobson * Strive for Independence,” LE MILE Magazine, March
“Interviews,” She Curates
“Ania Hobson,” Women Seeking Art, February
“Juxtapoz, ep 065: Ania Hobson’s Real Life Escapism,” Juxtapoz, February
2020
“BP Portrait Young Artist winner, Ania Hobson, celebrates modern women in her debut London show,” Martin CID Magazine
Clarke, Andrew. “Suffolk portrait winner Ania Hobson showcases ‘modern woman’,” East Anglian Daily Times, September
Ryan, Alice. “Art: Suffolk art star Ania Hobson is going solo,” Velvet Mag, September
“In Conversation with Ania Hobson,” Cass Art
“BP Portrait Young Artist winner, Ania Hobson, celebrates modern women in her debut London show,” Arts Pod
Galton, Bridget. “Rising young artist Ania Hobson to exhibit at Catto Gallery,” Ham&High, July
Cowan, Katy. “New oil paintings by award-winning artist Ania Hobson that celebrate strong millenial women,” Creative Boom, July
“Artist Spotlight: Ania Hobson,” Boooooooom, January
2019
Whitfield, Zoe. “These Incredible Portraits Show Millenial Women In The Coolest Light,” Refinery 29, June
Milroy Maher, Daniel. “Painter Ania Hobson combines contemporary and traditional styles in her portraits,” It’s Nice That, March
2018
“Ania Hobson – BP Portrait Award Honoree,” What’s Hamptoning, August
“Artist Feature 19: Ania Hobson,” Works with out Walls, July “A portrait of two female painters,” National Portrait Gallery
