Ken Currie, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh
Widely perceived as one of the outstanding figurative painters of his generation, Glasgow-based Ken Currie presents his new series of paintings, on public view for the first time. Renowned for his intensely powerful and provocative work, Currie meditates upon the idea of the portrait, its origins and purposes, and its continued significance in the modern world.
Until 22 September, www.nationalgalleries.org
rn
The John Gingell Award, g39, Cardiff
Two exhibitions under one roof by Toby Huddlestone and Alan Goulbourne, recipients of the John Gingell Award – established in honour of an artist who had a significant impact on art education. The show includes Goulbourne’s sculptural works, developed throughout a mentoring period since January. Huddlestone will start an ambitious and open-ended process that will accumulate during the exhibition, examining the mechanics of putting together a solo show.
Until 28 September, www.g39.org
rn
Laura Buckley, The Magic Know-How, Site Gallery, Sheffield
For this site-specific installation, artist Laura Buckley creates a series of videos projecting onto and through sculptural structures. Collaborating with musician Andy Spence of NYPC, they create a sonic environment, which like the visual material, is made up of synthesized fragments from the artist’s everyday life.
Until 21 September, www.sitegallery.org
rn
It’s a Kind of English Magic, British Council, London
This new display by Jeremy Deller refers to his acclaimed exhibition English Magic, currently on show in the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, and commissioned by the British Council. The show aims to give audiences in the UK a flavour of the Venice exhibition before it returns to the UK for a national tour in 2014. Of particular note are an extended selection of drawings by UK prisoners, created in a series of workshops led by Deller in the run up to the Biennale.
Until 21 September, visualarts.britishcouncil.org
rn
Juliana O’Dean, Ancient Earth, Fresh Ground, C4RD, London
Coinciding with the forthcoming Royal Academy exhibition Australia, which explores the country’s landscape in painting, O’Dean continues her project that looks at specific landscapes in Australia. She has taken up residence in the main gallery space and visitors during August will be able to view the development of the work. Having made site drawings in Banffshire, Scotland, throughout July, she will process these responses to the terrain and create a body of work that references the site drawings.
Until 24 August, www.c4rd.org.uk
rn
Selection compiled by Jack Hutchinson
