PORTFOLIO
Painting & Mixed Media | Printmaking | Sculpture
BIOGRAPHY
After completing a BA honors degree in painting, I pursued a printmaking postgraduate degree in the UK, where I am from. It was during this time that I was impacted by the German Expressionists, whose works, particularly in printmaking, left an indelible impression on me. I dedicated many subsequent years to developing my work in etching and other forms of printmaking. Today, printmaking continues to be a medium that intrigues me and is hugely influential in the way I approach my painting and sculpture.
During my years in Chicago (2010 – 2016) I was able to expand my work in both printmaking and painting — often combining elements of both in one piece. To develop a painting or drawing I use my prints as the starting point, which are often worked into a painting using collage and printed impressions from fabrics and embossed papers. I then use printmaking tools, such as rollers, squeegees and scrapers, to apply paint. My clay-based sculptures are also layered and imprinted with fabric patterns; a variety of stampings and tooled marks give their surfaces the appearance of “etched lines.”
People are the subjects of my work and I am intrigued by moments that, despite initially appearing quite commonplace, are (for me) charged with great significance and meaning. My inspiration is drawn from experiences or predicaments I encounter in daily life, such as social gatherings, images from social media and words from a song or a poem. All these generate ideas for themes that I can build upon, “dress-up” and weave into my work. I compose figures either in groupings or as a single figure or just a face. My aim is not to create exact likenesses, but rather to create prototypical or archetypal figures whose personality or identity is both partly exposed and partly hidden beneath the surface. Everything about the way I work (both technique and subject) is motivated by the desire to reveal or “bring something to light.” Thus my process involves layering then scraping back, building then excavating; otherwise, peeling back layers to “carve out” and reveal something hidden beneath the surface.
It is through these painted, sculpted or printed figures that I wish to project recognizable aspects of human experience. I want to compel and to draw the viewer in for a closer look beyond the surface.
“It is through these painted, sculpted or printed figures that I wish to project recognizable aspects of human experience. I want to compel and to draw the viewer in for a closer look beyond the surface.”
CORINNA BUTTON: ON HER PROCESS
QUOTED TEXT
“Button’s remarkable show” (‘About Face’ Chicago 2012) Her “layered figures are not only giant in their size however. They are colossal in their presence as every character reveals a different narrative and persona, creating a magnificent allure and aura.”
— CHICAGO GALLERY NEWS 2012
“Combined with mastery of execution, Corinna Button conquers our imagination by placing a perennial mirror into our collective human experience.”
— SERGIO GOMEZ CURATOR; ‘ABOUT FACE’ 2012
“Corinna explores the social interactions and relationships of both individuals and groups of people, often women and in threes, with gentle humour and a grain of grit. The effect is to leave you smiling with the residue of some kind of shared experience”
— BATH CONTEMPORARY 2012
“The roots of Corinna’s work may be in German Expressionism – The darkness, the colours, the bold, solid forms, the sense of something just out of reach …this is exciting, tantalizing work”
— SUE ROE, AUTHOR OF ‘THE PRIVATE LIVES OF THE IMPRESSIONISTS’ AND ‘ GWEN JOHN- A LIFE’ 2008
“It is not often I visit an exhibition which changes the way I look at the world”
— HELEN PARROTT (ARTS COUNCIL OF ENGLAND) 2008 ‘ON THE PULL’ SOLO EXHIBITION)
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Scratching the Surface- Breaking Through: Cupola Gallery, Sheffield – UK
2020
Caught in a Fast Lane: Cupola Gallery, Sheffield – UK
2017
Interfaces: Hyde Park Arts Centre, (sculpture, printmaking and painting) Chicago – USA
Caught in an act II: Media made Great, Chicago – USA
2016
Caught in the Act: Cupola Gallery, Sheffield – UK
Watching you, watching me: Pistachio Gallery, Chicago – USA
2014
Moments of Being: Gallery C, Dubuque – USA
University of Illinois, ULC, Chicago – USA
Artemisia, Chicago – USA
2013
Brumfield Contemporary Gallery, Boise – USA
2012
Painting & Prints: Bath Contemporary, Bath – UK
About Face: Centerline Gallery, Zhou B Art Center. Chicago – USA
2011
Flights of Fancy: Gallery 19. Minneapolis – USA
2010
Riverside Gallery, Barnes, London, – UK
Feast: Cupola Gallery, Sheffield – UK
2009
Chelsea Arts Club, London – UK
Brumfield Contemporary Art, Hastings – UK
Painting on a plate, printing onto Canvas: University of West of England, Bristol – UK
2008
Rose Theatre, Kingston-Upon-Thames – UK
2007
Gathering Storm: Gallery Kaleidoscope, London – UK
On the Pull: Cupola Gallery, Sheffield – UK
2005
Good Vibrations: Kew Gallery, London – UK
2001
Frantic: Wrenn Gallery, Northampton – UK
1999
Windsor Art Center, Windsor – UK
1996
Look-See: Tam-Tam Gallery, Budapest – HUNGARY
Poetics of Communication: Cupola Gallery, Sheffield – UK
1994
Paris Bank – Luxembourg
The Custard Factory, Birmingham – UK
1991
Ross Gallery, Wellington – NEW ZEALAND
A New Life: Finegold Contemporary Art, Hebden Bridge – UK
DUO EXHIBITION
2024
Innocence And Mischief: Exhibition with Anne Lynch RWS at AKA Fine Art, Cambridge – UK
Selected International Juried & Group Exhibitions 2010- 2019
2019
‘Not Just Another Pretty Face: Hyde Park Art Center. Chicago – USA
2017
Paper Contemporary: Sydney Contemporary, Sydney – AUSTRALIA
Shakespeare: A celebration: Kwan Fong Gallery, Cal Lutheran University, California – USA
2016
Not Just Another Pretty Face; Hyde Park Art Center. Chicago, – USA
Human rights Institute, Keane University Gallery, New Jersey – USA
2015
In The Meantime: Gallery 19, Chicago – USA
Artists interpret Shakespeare: Addington Gallery, Chicago – USA
Artress: Research House for Asian Art, Chicago – USA
Breaking Criminal Traditions: Bridgeport Art Center. Chicago – USA
Art Taipei; International Art Fair, World Trade Center – TAIWAN
Chicago Invasion: Blue Rider Gallery, Taipei – TAIWAN
2014
Art Miami: International Art Fair – USA
Artists Interpret Shakespeare: Elmhurst Museum – USA
Twelve: 15th and West gallery. Chicago – USA
Artists Interpret Shakespeare & The Chicago City Chamber Choir – USA
Breaking criminal traditions: Highland Park Art Center. Chicago – USA
Busan City Hall: Cultural Exchange – KOREA
Away from this inverted world: Bridgeport Art Center. Chicago – USA
Transient Life: 33Contemporary Art., Chicago – USA
2013
Breaking Criminal Traditions: Beverley Art Center. Chicago – USA
Not Just Another Pretty Face: Hyde Park Art Center. Chicago – USA
Off Center: Chicago Art Department, Chicago – USA
Voices from the Warehouse: Voices Gallery, Dubuque – USA
Front and Center: Hyde Park Art Center. Chicago – USA
2012
Public Vs Private: Woman Made Gallery. Chicago – USA
Face Mask: 33 Contemporary Art. Chicago – USA
2011
Being Human: Union Street Gallery, Chicago – USA
National Portrait Exhibition, 33 Contemporary Art. Chicago. – USA
Calling Home & Loss of Space: Milwaukee Arts Festival, Chicago- USA
2010
Mother: Woman Made Gallery, Chicago – USA
Centerline 10: Zhou B Art Center. Chicago – USA
Selected Juried & Group Exhibitions UK & Europe
2024
London Original Print Fair – Somerset House, London – UK
2023
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: Royal Academy of Art, London – UK
ING Discerning Eye: Mall Galleries, London. – UK
2020
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: Royal Academy of Art, London – UK
ING Discerning Eye: Mall Galleries, London. – UK
2019
ING Discerning Eye: Mall Galleries, London – UK
The Prince’s Trust: Highgrove House – UK
Art on A Postcard: The Hepatitis C Trust London – UK
2018
Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair: London – UK
Original Prints Summer exhibition: Burton Museum – UK
National Exhibition of Original Prints: Chief Curator: British Museum, London – UK
Summer show: For Arts Sake Gallery, London – UK
2017
London Original Print Fair: The Royal Academy of Art, London – UK
The Masters – Monoprints: Bankside Gallery, London – UK
2016
The Masters – Etching: Selection by Norman Ackroyd RA, Bankside Gallery, London – UK
2015
The Masters – Relief prints: Bankside Gallery, London – UK
In Print: International Printmaking Biennale, Gallery 11, Hull – UK
Prints and Plates: Cupola Contemporary Gallery, Sheffield – UK
National Original Print: Bankside Gallery, London – UK
2014
RE Painting & Printmaking: Bath Contemporary, Bath – UK
2013
TEN: Bankside Gallery, London – UK
Flourish: West Yorkshire Printmakers Gallery, Mirfield – UK
Royal Society of painters & Printmakers: Burton Museum in Bideford, Devon – UK
2011
The London Original Print Fair: Royal Academy of Art, London – UK
2010
International print exhibition: Open Space Gallery, St Penryn, Cornwall – UK
2009
Royal West of England Academy Bristol – UK
2008
Hicks Gallery, Wimbledon, London – UK
A Century of Sheffield Art: Millennium Galleries, Sheffield – UK
Leeds City Museum Gallery Design Center – UK
New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham – UK
2006
Kingston Open: Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston-Upon-Thames – UK
2004
Mother: West end Art Center, Aldershot – UK
2005
RAC Gallery, RAC Club, London – UK
Gallery One, Barnes, London – UK
1999
Open Print Biennale: Atrium Gallery, Queensway, London – UK
2001
International Print: Yale Gallery, Wrexham, Wales – UK
2003
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: Royal Academy of Art, London – UK
2000
ING Discerning Eye: Mall Galleries, London – UK
International Printmaking: Mall Galleries, London – UK
1999
Open Print Biennale: Atrium Gallery, Queensway, London – UK
1998
Sefton Open: Atkinson Gallery, Merseyside – UK
1996
Galerie Rose, Hamburg – GERMANY
National Print exhibition: Mall Galleries, London – UK
1995
Kunst Garden – DENMARK
1994
Rothenstein Trophy: Exhibition in Scarborough, and London – UK
1993
Galerie Editions Simoncini – LUXEMBOURG
1992
National Theatre, Curator Jill George Gallery, London – UK
The Royal Festival Hall, London – UK
1990
US / UK Exchange: Curator; Norman Ackroyd RA, Barbican, London – UK
National Museum of Fine Art, Valetta – MALTA
Awards, Reviews & Publications & Commissions
2019
Commissioned project. Not just another pretty Face, Hyde Park Art Center. Chicago – USA
2018
Printmaking Today Publication; Creative Collaborations – UK
2017
New Art Examiner Publication; Work that Caught our Eye – USA
2016
Feature in Modern Luxury Design Publication; Art by Design, Chicago – USA
New City Art Magazine review; Interfaces, solo show, Chicago – USA
Blouin Magazine; Review article; Interfaces, solo show, Chicago – USA
Dry Red Press Publishing Award – UK
Commissioned project: Not just another pretty Face, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago – USA
2014
First Prize for painting. The Art Slam, Voices Gallery, Dubuque – USA
Urban Confusions: Journal publication, Issue No4 – USA
2013
Commissioned project: Not just another pretty Face, Hyde Park Art Center. Chicago – USA
The Examiner magazine: Feature by Mary A Osborne, Chicago – USA
The Boise Weekly: Solo show review, Boise – USA
Commissioned project; Not just another pretty Face, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago – USA
2011
Chicago Gallery News; solo show review; About Face – USA
Drawings featured in; Extraordinary Sketchbooks by Jane Stobart (A&C Black) – UK
2010
Short-listed for Printmaking prize A4 International open Print exhibition, Cornwall – UK
2009
Hector Purchase Prize for Printmaking – UK
2007
University of Aberystwyth prize, Wales – UK
Printmaker’s Secrets book (Published by A&C Black) UK
Art London Magazine, featured artist article and review – UK
Hilite, Magazine – Smirting – GERMANY
2006
Artists and Illustrators Magazine; Featured artist – UK
Collections
The Victoria and Albert Museum London – UK
Jiangsu Art Museum, – CHINA
Ashmolean Museum Oxford – UK
BBC Sheffield – UK
Castle Lesley, IRELAND
University of Aberystwyth, Wales – UK
Croydon School of Art – UK
Held in private collections worldwide
Photography Credits
Image 1
Diego Martirena
Maplewoodphotography.com
Image 2
Detleff Koertge
deviantart.com
Image 3
Joseph Kayne
josephkaynephoto.com
Image 4
Diego Martirena
Maplewoodphotography.com
Image 5
Peter Fraterdeus
Fraterdeus.com
