The interdisciplinary artist and maker Megan Rooney speaks to Danielle at the launch of her Kettle's Yard exhibition - her first solo UK show - to talk about how colour, her body, and location inform her work.
Danielle travels to Kettle’s Yard, the contemporary art gallery in Cambridge, UK, to meet Megan Rooney, a Canadian artist renowned for her diverse and interdisciplinary practice encompassing painting, sculpture, installation, and performance.
Kettle's Yard is a charming art gallery and house that was originally the home of Jim Ede, a former curator at the Tate Gallery, and his wife Helen. From the mid-1950s until the early 70s, the Edes resided at Kettle’s Yard and created a space to display their impressive personal art collection, which includes works by Miro, Henry Moore, and Ben Nicholson. The house is arranged to maintain its domestic atmosphere, blending art with everyday objects to create an inspiring environment. Kettle's Yard also hosts temporary exhibitions, concerts, and educational programs, the most recent of which is a showcase of Megan Rooney’s work, including a site-specific temporary mural, a series of paintings, a dance performance, and a book.
Born in South Africa and raised between Brazil and Canada, Rooney's work explores themes of identity, memory, and the human experience, blending abstract forms with narrative elements. Now based in London, her vibrant, large-scale paintings and immersive installations are characterised by a dynamic use of colour and texture. She has exhibited internationally, including at prominent institutions like the Serpentine Galleries in London and the Louis Vuitton Foundation, and is recognised for her innovative approach to blending different media and creating evocative, experiential art.
Danielle visited Kettle's Yard to discuss with Megan her latest offering on the eve of the exhibition opening, which is her first major solo show in the UK.
https://www.kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk/
https://ropac.net/artists/210-megan-rooney/
Photo (detail): Eva Herzog