Caroline Walker’s canvases and intimate scenes depict anonymous women in settings that blur the boundaries between public and private. Walker’s paintings are a lens for the everyday lives of women, and her portraits of diverse subjects tell their story through the spaces they inhabit. Each of Walker’s series conveys a distinct sense oftime and place: from the undisguised luxury and classdynamics of beauty parlors in her series Painted Ladies, to the humanistic portraits of refugees and asylum seekers in Home (commissioned by Kettle’s Yard, UK), to scenes of anonymous women at work framed by the architecture of London in service. In her recent artworks, Walker turns her focus to her immediate surroundings. She explores the boundary between being an observer – that is preserving the “objective” eye of an outsider – and magnifying the experience of a place which has become part of the fabric ofher life. They are conceived as a reflection on community and how the anonymous people we encounter become characters in our own stories. Her subjects include a neighbor working in her garden, the local drycleaner and a pharmacy sales assistant, all of whom are connected within a discrete area of the sprawling London metropolis. Walker describes small movements of daily existence and encapsulates the corners of life which are often overlooked but nonetheless vital, written and erased from history over and over again. They also serve as a kind of self-portrait by recording the artist’s journey through the places she frequents. Walker has received wide acclaim for her portrayals of women as works of social commentary, although itis her ability to distill viewpoints from familiar settings and her talent as a colorist that first impact viewers of her paintings. The complexities of her subjects’ lives filter through to the surface and coalesce in imagesthat both fulfill the senses and speak to poignant moments of human experience. As a cohesive body of work, Walker’s paintings explore the performance of gender identity, femininity, and question the norms of depicting women and the female form across a range of socio-economic contexts.
Caroline Walker (b. 1982, Dunfermline, UK) currently lives and works in London (UK), where she completed her MA at the Royal College of Art in 2009. Recent and ongoing solo exhibitions include: Women Observed, K11, Shanghai (CN); Lisa, Stephen Friedman Gallery, London (UK); Caroline Walker: Birth Reflections, The Fitzrovia Chapel, London (UK) in 2022; Windows, KM21, Kunstmuseum, The Hague (NL); Women's work, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham (UK); Nearby, GRIMM, New York, NY (US) in 2021; JANET, Ingleby Gallery, Edinburgh (UK) in 2020; A Woman Sewing, GRIMM, Amsterdam (NL) in 2019. Selected group exhibitions include,Traces of Displacement, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester (UK); Finding Family, Foundling Museum, London (UK) in 2023; From Near and Far: Collage and Figuration in the Contemporary Age, curated by Katy Hessel, Stephen Friedman Gallery, London (UK); the British Art Show 9, Wolverhampton; Manchester and Plymouth (UK); A Female Gaze, Nottingham Castle, Nottingham (UK) in 2022; Condition Humaine, GRIMM, New York, NY (US); The Rules of Art?, National Museum Cardiff, Cardiff (UK); Reflections beyond the Surface, AkzoNobel Art Foundation, Amsterdam (NL) in 2021; Everyday Heroes, Hayward Gallery, London (UK) in 2020; The Rising Tide: Women at Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, Cambridge (UK); María Berrío, Caroline Walker, Flora Yukhnovich, Victoria Miro Gallery, in association with The Great Women Artists, London (UK) in 2019.
Walker is represented in a number of public collections including: Aishti Foundation (LB); AkzoNobel Art Foundation (NL); He Art Museum (CN); High Museum of Art, GA (US); Huamao Beijing Foundation (CN); ICA Miami, FL (US); ING Collection (NL); Jimenez-Colon Collection (PR); Kistefos Museum (NO); Kolon Group Collection (KR); Kunstmuseum, The Hague (NL); Museum Voorlinden (NL); National Museum Wales (UK); Pérez Art Museum Miami, FL (US); The Rachofsky Collection, TX (US); Rosenblum Collection (FR); Royal College of Art (UK); Saatchi Collection (UK); Shetland Islands Council (UK); Sifang Art Museum (CN); The University of Cambridge (UK); The UK Government Art Collection (UK); University of Warwick (UK); Yale University Art Gallery, CT (US) and Woong Yeul Lee Collection (KR).
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Condition Humaine
29 Oct - 4 Dec 2021 GRIMM 54 White St, New York, NY (US) -
Caroline Walker
Windows 28 Aug - 28 Nov 2021 KM21, Kunstmuseum, The Hague (NL) -
Caroline Walker
Nearby 25 Mar - 1 May 2021 GRIMM 54 White St, New York, NY (US) -
54 White Street | Inaugural exhibition
GRIMM's new gallery in Tribeca 20 Mar - 17 Apr 2021 GRIMM 54 White St, New York, NY (US)Join us in March 2021 for the grand opening of GRIMM's new space in Tribeca at 54 White Street. For more further information, please email info@grimmgallery.comRead more -
Frieze New York
Group presentation 8 - 16 May 2020 GRIMM Van Baerlestraat 80, Amsterdam (NL)Frieze presentation at GRIMM's new Van Baerlestraat 80 location in Amsterdam.Read more -
Caroline Walker
A Woman Sewing 30 Aug - 5 Oct 2019 GRIMM Keizersgracht 241, Amsterdam (NL) -
Caroline Walker
service 4 May - 3 Jun 2018 GRIMM 202 Bowery, New York, NY (US) -
Pop-up GRIMM Brussels
Group Exhibition 18 Apr - 5 May 2018 Ravensteinstraat 44, Brussels (BE), Other locations -
Caroline Walker
Actions. Part 2: Home 11 Apr - 7 May 2018 Kettle’s Yard, University of Cambridge (UK), Other locations -
Caroline Walker
The Racquet Club 2 Sep - 9 Oct 2016 Frans Halsstraat 26, Amsterdam (NL), Other locations -
A Question of Perspective
Group Exhibition 22 Jan - 5 Mar 2016 Frans Halsstraat 26, Amsterdam (NL), Other locations
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Eight works to know from Summer Exhibition 2023
Royal Academy Magazine , May 5, 2023 -
Scottish Artist Caroline Walker’s Ascent at Auction Adheres to a Familiar Formula
Angelica Villa, ArtNews, March 15, 2023 -
Motherhood and washing up: Caroline Walker’s paintings of ‘women’s work’
Alex Hyde, Financial Times, April 30, 2022 -
Podcast: 5 Questions to Caroline Walker
Art Fix, September 13, 2021 -
Kunstmuseum Den Haag opens an exhibition of paintings by Caroline Walker
Artdaily, August 30, 2021 -
Caroline Walker’s striking paintings of women
May Calil, The Wick, June 16, 2021 -
In the studio with… Caroline Walker
Apollo Magazine, April 15, 2021 -
Caroline Walker - artist profile
Lizzie Cheatham McNairy, Matrons & Mistresses, December 2, 2020 -
Striking paintings by Caroline Walker of her mother cooking, cleaning and tidying at home
Katy Cowan, CREATIVE BOOM, March 16, 2020 -
The 'invisible' female workers of London – in pictures
Abigail Scantlebury, The Guardian, October 26, 2019 -
A Woman Sewing: Caroline Walker @ Grimm Gallery, Amsterdam
Sasha Bogojev, Juxtapoz , September 9, 2019 -
De schilderijen van Caroline Walker gluren naar binnen op Savile Row (in Dutch)
Sophia Zürcher, Het Parool, September 2, 2019 -
Caroline Walker – New Work
Het Parool, September 1, 2019 -
Pulp Fiction: The Endurance of the Perfect Pop Aesthetic
Sukayna Powell, Elephant, August 7, 2019 -
An Interview with Caroline Walker
Alisei Apollonio, Artuner, June 4, 2019 -
Caroline Walker paints the unseen women London's service industries
Ruby Boddington, It's Nice That, June 4, 2019 -
Caroline Walker's Paintings of Women Reclaim the Gaze
Holly Black, Elephant, October 28, 2018 -
Caroline Walker : au nom des femmes
Flo Ryne, Beware!, July 3, 2018 -
The new exhibitionists
Spectator Life, June 13, 2018 -
Episode 105: Caroline Walker
Brian Alfred, SOUND & VISION Podcast, May 4, 2018 -
O Privire În Viețile Lor
Iona Chira, Harper’s Bazaar Romania, April 6, 2018 -
Caroline Walker: Sunset at Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles
Jonathan Griffin, ArtReview, April 1, 2018 -
Kettle's Yard to launch new exhibition reflecting diversity of British art
Florence Hallett, Independent, February 11, 2018 -
Lives Interrupted
Liz Jobey, Financial Times, February 4, 2018 -
Cinematic Paintings Set in a Modernist Los Angeles Home
Holly Black, AnOther , January 29, 2018 -
If You Love The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, You'll Love These Paintings By Caroline Walker
Brienne Walsh, Forbes, January 26, 2018 -
Caroline Walker > California dreaming?
Matt Price, Fused Magazine, October 11, 2017 -
Caroline Walker. Illuminations, 2012. Oil on linen, 240 x 305 cm. © the artist. Caroline Walker. In Every Dream Home, 2
Emily Spicer, Studio International, October 4, 2017 -
The pull of Hockney’s pool paintings
Matthew Sperling, Apollo, February 4, 2017 -
Voyeur in zonnig resort (in Dutch)
Sophia Zürcher, Het Parool, September 30, 2016 -
Interview: Dr Rina Arya in conversation with Caroline Walker
Dr. Rina Arya, thisistomorrow, May 23, 2016 -
The Scottish Connection
Matt Price, Flash Art, November 6, 2015 -
Enigmas: Caroline Walker’s lithographs and paintings
Matthew Sperling, Apollo, August 15, 2014 -
Bad Intent: Caroline Walker's Paintings Give an Uneasy Edge to the Lifestyles of the rich and fabulous
Martin Newman, HuffPost, September 29, 2013 -
Caroline Walker: In Every Dream Home
Daisy Woodward, AnOther, July 19, 2013
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A Female Gaze: Caroline Walker Paintings and Drawings with the work of Laura Knight
Nottingham Castle 2022 Read more -
Great Women Painters
Phaidon Editors Phaidon Editors, with an introduction by Alison M. Gingeras, 2022Hardback, 348 pagesRead more
Publisher: Phaidon
ISBN: 9781838663285
Dimensions: 290 × 250 mm (11 3/8 × 9 7/8 in) -
Janet
Caroline Walker Authors: Caroline Walker, Hettie Judah, 2020Hardcover, 152 pagesRead more
Publisher: Anomie Publishing
ISBN: 9781910221266
Dimensions: 27 x 22.5 cm | 10 5/8 x 8 7/8 in -
Picture Window
Caroline Walker Authors: Caroline Walker, Marco Livingstone with contributions by Dr Rina Arya, Lauren Elkin, Andrew Nairne, 2018Softcover Monograph, 312 pagesRead more
Publisher: Anomie Publishing, London and GRIMM, Amsterdam | New York
ISBN: 9781910221181
Dimensions: 29 x 23.5 cm | 11 3/8 x 9 1/4 in -
Prime: Art's Next Generation
Phaidon Editors Phaidon Editors, 2022Flexibound, 448 pagesRead more
Publisher: Phaidon
ISBN: 9781838662448
Dimensions: 290 × 214 mm (11 3/8 × 8 3/8 in) -
Windows [Dutch version]
Caroline Walker Published by GRIMM on the occasion of "Windows", Caroline Walker's solo exhibition at KM21, Kunstmuseum in The Hague (NL)., 2021Hard cover with linen, 104 pagesRead more
Publisher: GRIMM Amsterdam (NL)
ISBN: ISBN 978-90-831888-2-9
Dimensions: 22 x 15 cm | 8 5/8 x 5 7/8 in -
Windows [English version]
Caroline Walker Published by GRIMM on the occasion of "Windows", Caroline Walker's solo exhibition at KM21, Kunstmuseum in The Hague (NL)., 2021Hard cover with linen, 104 pagesRead more
Publisher: GRIMM Amsterdam (NL)
ISBN: ISBN 978-90-831888-1-2
Dimensions: 22 x 15 cm | 8 5/8 x 5 7/8 in
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Caroline Walker in TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art
Caroline Walker October 26, 2019GRIMM is pleased to announce its participation in the 2019 TWO x TWO for AIDS and ART with Caroline Walker’s Guest Change, 2019. TWO x...Read more -
Caroline Walker - Book signing, GRIMM Frans Halsstraat, Amsterdam
14 December 2018 December 14, 2018GRIMM and Anomie Publishers are pleased to invite you to celebrate the launch of Picture Window , Caroline Walker’s first in-depth monograph. The artist will...Read more -
ARTIST’S TALK: CAROLINE WALKER
Caroline Walker October 17, 2018Artist Caroline Walker whose painting series ‘Home’ is on show in Art Exchange, will be in conversation with Natasha Walter, Director of Women for Refugee...Read more -
Book launch: Caroline Walker – Picture Window
Caroline Walker October 5, 2018Friday, October 5th 6.30 – 8.30 pm Hatchards Piccadilly 187 Piccadilly LondonRead more -
Actions Artists Interviews by Circuit – Kettle’s Yard
Caroline Walker February 22, 2018