Alice Macdonald
Alice Macdonald is a London-based artist whose diaristic paintings are informed by a broad range of sources spanning historical literature, classic films, myths, fairytales, memories, and friends and family painted from life. Fascinated by the complexities of human behaviour, emotion and relationships, she is attracted to the cinematic and the melodramatic, as well as the idea of role-playing. In her words: ‘I am interested in my subjects' psychological state and innermost thoughts and feelings but, dichotomously, I am also fascinated by the impossibility of knowing what these really are’.
Alice’s jewel-like works on paper form a core part of her practice, their smaller scale lending them an intense, voyeuristic quality. She has also recently started experimenting with ceramics; the malleable qualities of this medium relate closely to her dynamic painting style. Her most recently paintings and works on paper are tactile and highly textured. Featuring cut-out and pinned down hessian, their collaged surfaces give each work a sense of fragility which relates to the artist’s drawings. In Alice’s words; I want the viewer to be aware that the image is a construction, and it is a rickety one that could easily be altered.’
Alice studied at Falmouth University (2011- 2014) followed by the Royal Drawing School (2016 - 2017). Since graduating, she has undertaken several artistic residencies including the Dumfries House Residency, Scotland, the IIFA Teaching Residency, Modinagar, India and the Scuola Graphica Internazionale Printmaking residency, Venice, Italy. She has exhibited her work widely in the UK in group exhibitions including the Denton's Art Prize, London (2021) and the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts (2019); in early 2022 a solo exhibition of her work was presented by Paint Talk in London. She was awarded the Great Art Prize, given at the National Original Print Exhibition, 2017 and most recently was presented with the RWS Young Artist Award at the Royal Watercolour Society Open, Bankside Gallery, London. Oliver Projects has presented her work in several group exhibitions in London. We also launched new prints by Alice at the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair in 2022 and 2023. Alice’s first solo exhibition outside the UK was held in Seoul, South Korea, in June 2023 at LKIF Gallery. In December 2024, Soho Revue, London, presented a joint exhibition of Alice’s work alongside work by Joana Galego. Oliver Projects presented new work by Alice at the 2025 London Art Fair. Alice is based in south east London.
Shop works by Alice Macdonald
Monoprint with etching, 55.5 x 76cm
Alice Macdonald is an emerging, London-based artist whose diaristic paintings are informed by a broad range of sources spanning historical literature, classic films, myths, fairytales, memories, and friends and family painted from life. Fascinated by the complexities of human behaviour, emotion and relationships, she is attracted to the cinematic and the melodramatic, as well as the idea of role-playing. In her words: ‘I am interested in my subjects' psychological state and innermost thoughts and feelings but, dichotomously, I am also fascinated by the impossibility of knowing what these really are’.
Purchased works are usually despatched within three working days.
Monoprint with etching and aquatint, 76 x 55cm
Alice Macdonald is an emerging, London-based artist whose diaristic paintings are informed by a broad range of sources spanning historical literature, classic films, myths, fairytales, memories, and friends and family painted from life. Fascinated by the complexities of human behaviour, emotion and relationships, she is attracted to the cinematic and the melodramatic, as well as the idea of role-playing. In her words: ‘I am interested in my subjects' psychological state and innermost thoughts and feelings but, dichotomously, I am also fascinated by the impossibility of knowing what these really are’.
In this unframed unique print, the artist has made combining monoprint, aquatint and etching techniques. This combination gives the work’s surface a painterly quality whilst allowing the artist to add linear details, like the potted plants and the curtains.
Purchased works are usually despatched within three working days.
Gouache and collage on paper, 40 × 30cm
Alice Macdonald is an emerging, London-based artist whose diaristic paintings are informed by a broad range of sources spanning historical literature, myths, fairytales, memories, and friends and family painted from life. Fascinated by the complexities of human behaviour, emotion and relationships, she is attracted to the cinematic and the melodramatic, whether drawing scenes from classic films, or painting in the landscape.
This unframed work on paper is a part of a body of unique works on paper which were made during Alice’s recent artistic residency at Clover Mill in the Netherlands, where she worked from life in the grounds of the Mill. Having time to focus on works on paper allowed the artist to work more freely, resulting a vibrant new body of work, many which - like this one- feature collaged elements which lend a dynamic quality.
Purchased works are usually despatched within three working days.