Lucie Bennett’s work presents potent images of women in varying guises - as haunting sirens, alluring pin-ups and supernatural nymphs - but plays absorbing games with the viewer’s preconceptions of these deceptively familiar archetypes.
Bennett’s images are sometimes confrontational, directly challenging the viewer. At other times, her women are elusive, oblivious to the viewer’s gaze, seemingly existing in an other-worldly space beyond the surface of the paint.
Bennett gained a BA from Manchester Metropolitan University in Interactive Arts, graduating in 1997. She also studied at L’Ecole Regionale des Beaux-Arts de Nantes in France.
Solo shows have included Untitled at Drella Gallery (2009) Untitled at Opus Gallery (2006) Lucie Bennett New Works at Eyestorm/Britart Gallery (2005), Untitled at The Gallery on Cork Street (2004), and Frill at Space Gallery (2003). Spring 2009 saw her exhibiting at the prestigious Armory Fair in New York for the third year running.
Bennett has also featured in a number of group exhibitions including RCA Secrets at The Royal College of Art, Bob’s Your Uncle at Eyestorm Gallery, New York and Girls In Space at Space Gallery, London. Bennett’s work is shown regularly at art fairs. A large painting of Bennett’s is on permanent display in the Press Room at Soho’s Groucho Club; she has been specially commissioned to produce work for Selfridges and House Of Fraser, and is proud to have auctioned work on behalf of the Terrence Higgins Trust, The British Red Cross and The ME Support Group.
Bennett’s work was also featured in the first UK series of BBC2’s hit TV show The Apprentice. A team of the contestants were tasked with selling as much of Bennett’s work as possible during a two hour private view, competing with the other team, who were selling the work of artists Rob and Nick Carter.
