Neville Grey

Artist Statement

Coping with a disability has had a powerful impact on how I live and approach life. I found that the act of producing art allowed me to redefine my sense of self and purpose. My constrained existence compelled me to find inspiration in the everyday objects around me. I am interested in exploring the intrinsic beauty of the familiar.

My shoe paintings aim to connect the viewer to the promise of personal transformation through the simple act of putting on a pair of shoes. While on one level the shoes evoke a sense of frivolity and spontaneity, they also give expression to a private side of ourselves, as we explore our own personal sense of self and identity.

Through repetition, I reference the industrial mass production of the ever present article. However, with the intimate scale and tender treatment of the form, I want also to accentuate the personal attachment and treasured feelings people have for their shoes.

The images celebrate the human spirit and imagination, revealing that, whether men, women or children, we all have fond memories of a favourite pair of shoes. Whether it is a new pair of party shoes, a pair of heels that we will never fit into but crave anyway, hiking boots, or a comfortable pair of slippers that we reluctantly relinquish, we all have a shoe story to tell.

By presenting the ordinary as extraordinary, I hope that my work encourages viewers to stop and take time to consider and reflect upon the beauty of life, thereby serving as a point of reference for our own personal experiences.

Catalogue Description

Neville Grey is a Vancouver painter, educated at UBC (BFA) and Emily Carr. His recent exhibitions include the Artropolis Adjunct Show in 2002 and 2003, and group shows around B.C. Coping with a disability has had a profound impact on how I live and approach life. I found that the act of producing art allowed me to redefine my sense of self and purpose. I am interested in exploring the intrinsic beauty of the familiar, and my constrained existence compelled me to find inspiration in the everyday objects around me.