Available Works

In The Studio

Biography

Zena Blackwell (b.1977, Welsh British) is a visual artist whose work investigates various themes pertaining to childhood, be it her own experience of childhood and parenthood or general observations of her own two children. Zena is interested in the evolving dynamics between her children; their relationship with the environment, animals and the world in general (and all that it presents). Children can be strange and beautiful but also funny but melancholy. The presence of children in Zena's work provides glimpses into imagination, fantasy; story telling and sometimes surrealism, identity and gender definitions. Although recognisable faces often crop up in her works, Zena does not consider them as portraits with the character's representing a universal portrayal of children/ childhood. She often find that the paintings are very relatable to other people - so they almost become like shared memories or a shared lexicon of childhood. Zena lives and works in Cardiff, UK.

Education

Diploma, Turps Art School, 2021-2022

MA, Central Saint Martins, 2010-2011

BA, Wimbledon College of Art, 1996-1999

Private Collections

National Library of Wales

Press

2022, Women Artists Lead the Way at The Other Art Fair London This Week, London Post

2020, Seven Formidable Welsh Women Artists Examine and Disrupt the Meaning of the Household Name, Fad Magazine

2018, Welsh Visual Arts The Best of 2018, Wales Arts Review

2018, Y Lle Celf yn y Senedd: 'O'r cywrain i'r cyfareddol', BBC

2018, Lifting the Veil to Worlds Less Ordinary, Western Mail

2014, Five2Watch: Fantasy, Axis

Exhibitions

2023, Celebration of Contemporary Welsh Painting, Pierhead Futures Gallery, Cardiff Bay, UK (Group)
2022, A Delicate Balance, Canfas, Cardigan, UK (Solo)
2022, Art on a Postcard Auction, The Bomb Factory, Covent Garden, London, UK (Group)
2022, The Other Art Fair, Truman Brewery, London, UK (Group)
2022, A Generous Space, Hastings Contemporary, Hastings, UK (Group)
2022, A Room of Her Own, Irving Contemporary, Oxford, UK (Group)
2022, BEEP Painting Prize, Elysium Gallery, Swansea, UK (Group)
2022, Collecting Exhibition of New Acquisitions, The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK (Group)
2022, Otherworlds, Cardiff MADE, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2022, A Women's Place is Everywhere, The Cello Factory, London, UK (Group)
2022, Draw:Wales, Wales Week, London, UK (Group)
2022, Made in Roath, Open G39, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2022, The Sketchbook, Llantarnum Grange, Cwmbran, UK (Group)
2022, Y Lle Celf, National Eisteddfod, Tregaron, Cardigan, UK (Group)
2022, Body, Stitch, Soul, Studio Cennen, Llandeilo, UK (Group)
2022, A Celebration of Welsh Contemporary Painting, Red House, Merthyr Tydfil, UK (Group)
2022, Ebb and Flow, Studio Cennen, Llandeilo, UK (Group)
2022, Catalyst: Painters from the Turps Banana Correspondence Course, Oriel Canfas, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2022, The Hearth Gallery, Llandough Hospital, UK (Group)
2022, City Hospice Charity Auction, Roger Jones & Co, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2022, Poems, Psalms & Song, Studio Cennen, Llandeilo, UK (Group)
2022, Cardiff MADE, Winter Exhibition, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2021, Truth,Myth,Dreams, Studio Cennen, Llandeilo, UK (Group)
2021, Cardiff MADE Winter Exhibition, Cardiff MADE, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2021, Without Borders, Elysium Gallery, Japan, Norway, USA, Venice, Canada, Wales (Group)
2021, Household Name, Online (Group)
2021, Household Name, Contemporary Cymru (Group)
2021, Swansea, Elysium Gallery, Cambium, Cardiff MADE, UK (Group)
2020, Coming Up For Air, Oriel Canfas, Cardiff, UK (Group) 
2020, Telling Tales, Bay Art, Cardiff, UK( Group)
2020, Arcade Studio Exhibition, Arcade Campfa, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2020, A View From The Edge:Contemporary Landscape in the Digital Age, Cardiff MADE, UK (Group)
2019, Cardiff MADE Winter Show, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2019, AGORED19, Galeri, Caernarfon, UK (Group)
2019, Present X Correct Showcase, Contemporary Cymru Corsica Studios, London, UK (Group)
2019, Y Lle Celf, The Eisteddfod, Llanrwst, UK (Group)
2019, PAINT, PS Mirabel, Manchester, UK (Group)
2019, Empower Me!, G39, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2019, Arcade Studios, Bath Fringe Arts Festival, Bath, UK (Group)
2019, Tactile Bosch, Japan, Korea and Taiwan (Group)
2019, The Mutterscream: Crepuscular Lush, Jacob’s Market, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2019, Viridis: Spring Show, Cardiff MADE, UK (Group)
2018, Seen Not Heard, Cardiff MADE, Cardiff, UK (Solo)
2018, Winter Show, Cardiff MADE, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2018, CSAD Auction, G39, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2018, Made in Roath Open, G39, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2018, Y lle Celf, The Eisteddfod, Senedd, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2018, Filia, Feminist Conference, Manchester, UK (Group)
2017, Ankle Biters, Made in Roath, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2017, MADE Summer Open Exhibition, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2016, Domestic Bliss, Made in Roath, Cardiff, UK (Group)
2012, ArtLabBern Switzerland: My Beautiful Son Project, Bern, Switzerland (Group)
2012, Clit Rock, Regular Anti-FGM Event, London, UK (Group)
2011, MA Degree Show, Central Saint Martins, London, UK (Group)
2011, New Pretenders’ Bargehouse, London, UK (Group)
2010, Selected Works, The Glass Bar, London, UK (Group)
2010, Slap & Tickle, The Yard Bar, London, UK (Group)
2010, Wimbledon Library, Exhibition, UK (Group)