Ptolemy Mann: Marigold Grid Minimalism

About the artist:

Ptolemy Mann (b. 1973)

Ptolemy Mann creates hand-dyed and woven artworks that have become the basis for a modern-day Bauhaus philosophy of art-making underpinned with intelligent colour theory. Her time-consuming and unique approach has evolved over a twenty-five-year period. Exquisite dynamics of colour move across their fine surface, creating a painterly sweep. The term ‘Chromatic Minimalism’ has been applied to her work, and Abstract Expressionism and architecture heavily influence her.

Mann is interested in the relationships between colours and their affective potential. For her, painting is an expression of the material world. Optical effects and natural phenomena inspire her to explore the possibilities of her chosen materials: dye, thread, paper, paint and time. Through their rapid and/or laborious application she creates a multi-layered meditation on light and colour.

In 2019, Mann was commissioned by the Tate Modern to create a site-specific work for their Level 9 restaurant. These have, apparently, transformed visitor enthusiasm for the spaces and prompted former Tate Modern Director, Frances Morris, to say ‘these could be in our permanent collection’. She lectures regularly throughout the UK and abroad, writes for the magazine Selvedge, curates, and has received three grants from the Arts Council of England.