Caroline Walker’s large canvases and intimate panels 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 of time and place: from the undisguised luxury and class dynamics 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 of her 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 dry cleaner 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 it is 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 images that 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 solo exhibitions include: Nurture, Ingleby Gallery, Edinburgh (UK); 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. Selected group exhibitions include: Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood, Hayward Gallery Touring, Arnolfini, Bristol; Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham (UK); Licked by the Waves | New Bathers in Art, Museum MORE, Gorssel (NL); My World, curated by Hans den Hartog Jager, Singer Laren Museum (NL); The Painted Room, curated by Caroline Walker, GRIMM, Amsterdam (NL); Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London (UK); PUBLIC PRIVATE, Pond Society, Shanghai (CN); 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) and A Female Gaze, Nottingham Castle, Nottingham (UK) in 2022.
Walker is represented in a number of public collections including: Aïshti Foundation (LB); Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney (AU); Arts Council of England (UK); AkzoNobel Art Foundation (NL); The British Museum (UK); Dallas Museum of Art, TX (US); He Art Museum (CN); High Museum of Art, GA (US); Huamao Beijing Foundation (CN); Institute of Contemporary Art, 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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Caroline Walker
28 Mar - 2 May 2025 GRIMM 54 White St, New York, NY (US) -
Swimming
curated by Russell Tovey 28 Nov 2024 - 11 Jan 2025 GRIMM Keizersgracht 241, Amsterdam (NL) -
My World
Curated by Hans den Hartog Jager 18 Sep 2024 - 12 Jan 2025Curated by Hans den Hartog Jager, My World features eight artists from within GRIMM's program: Charles Avery , Tjebbe Beekman , Saskia Noor van Imhoff , Matthew Day Jackson ,...Read more -
The Painted Room
Curated by Caroline Walker 3 Nov - 22 Dec 2023 GRIMM Keizersgracht 241, Amsterdam (NL) -
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) -
Caroline Walker
Actions. Part 2: Home 11 Apr - 7 May 2018 Kettle’s Yard, University of Cambridge (UK) -
Caroline Walker
The Racquet Club 2 Sep - 9 Oct 2016 Frans Halsstraat 26, Amsterdam (NL) -
A Question of Perspective
Group Exhibition 22 Jan - 5 Mar 2016 Frans Halsstraat 26, Amsterdam (NL)
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When Women Artists Choose Mothering Over Making Work
Ligaya Mishan, T Magazine, December 1, 2023 -
An Inside Job
Holly Black, The World of Interiors, November 22, 2023 -
Caroline Walker curates as Grimm Amsterdam explores domesticity in art
Emily Steer, Wallpaper*, November 12, 2023 -
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 -
My World
Hans den Hartog Jager, Museum Singer Laren 2024Hardcover, 192 pagesRead more
Publisher: W Books, in collaboration with Museum Singer Laren
ISBN: 9789462586536
Dimensions: 30.5 x 24.5 cm -
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) -
The Painted Room
Curated by Caroline Walker Published by GRIMM on the occasion of "The Painted Room", a group exhibition curated by Caroline Walker at GRIMM in Amsterdan (NL), 2023Hard cover with linen, 104 pagesRead more
Publisher: GRIMM Amsterdam (NL)
ISBN: 978-90-833287-2-0
Dimensions: 22 x 15 cm | 8 5/8 x 5 7/8 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 to present major solo exhibition at The Hepworth Wakefield in 2025
November 21, 2024In 2025, The Hepworth Wakefield (UK) will present a solo exhibition of Caroline Walker's works, featuring paintings made over the last five years alongside a...Read more -
Six GRIMM artists part of "The Anomie Review of Contemporary British Painting 3"
The third comprehensive anthology focusing on the works of over eighty-five artists and the medium of painting in Britain. November 21, 2024Featuring GRIMM artists Louise Giovanelli , Gabriella Boyd , Jonathan Wateridge , Francesca Mollett , Caroline Walker and Michael Raedecker this third edition of The...Read more -
"Candy Kiosk" (2022) by Caroline Walker acquired by Dallas Art Museum
January 21, 2024The acquisition was generously made possible by private donors. We're delighted to announce the acquisition of Caroline Walker's Candy Kiosk by the Dallas Art Museum,...Read more -
GRIMM at Frieze London 2023
October 6, 2023GRIMM will present a series of new works from a range of international artists within the gallery program that reflect its foundations in the Netherlands,...Read more -
Solo exhibition: Caroline Walker "Women Observed" at K11 Museum, Shanghai
November 8, 2022The K11 Foundation in Shanghai presents 'Women Observed', a major solo exhibition of over 40 paintings of Caroline Walker, celebrating her intimate snapshots of...Read more -
"Cashing Up" (2022) by Caroline Walker acquired by the High Museum, Atlanta, GA
September 12, 2022GRIMM is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of Caroline Walker's Cashing Up (2022) by the High Museum, Atlanta, GA (US). This is the first...Read more -
Solo exhibition: Caroline Walker "Birth Reflections" at The Fitzrovia Chapel, London
February 17, 2022Caroline Walker’s exhibition 'Birth Reflections' opens tomorrow at The Fitzrovia Chapel, University College Hospital (UCLH) in London (UK). The exhibition follows her recent residency at...Read more -
Solo exhibition: Caroline Walker "Windows" at KM21, Kunstmuseum in The Hague
September 16, 2021KM21 in The Hague (NL) presents 'Windows', a solo exhibition of Caroline Walker's works. Walker records daily lives of the women around her on...Read more -
Actions Artists Interviews by Circuit – Kettle’s Yard
Caroline Walker February 22, 2018