summer exhibition 2025 - royal academy of arts
Two of my most recent paintings have just been shortlisted for this year's Royal Academy show
In a departure from my recent coastal-themed work, I have started a series of paintings exploring the idea of frames within frames, and the geometric shapes that are formed as you look out through these portals.
about joan roche
Joan Roche studied at the Royal Academy to set the foundations of her practice as an image maker working with drawing, print and painting. Observational research forms the starting point of her exploration into the material and formal processes of creating images and developing surfaces. She continues to maintain a strong connection with the Royal Academy Schools.
Roche's practice is situated within the experiential and engages with figurative and landscape subjects. Observation and perception are central into research to capture the atmospheres and dynamics of mood and energy experienced. Whether it is the body within an interior, or the elements playing out in the landscape, the qualities of light and movement become a lengthy endeavour to find form. Painterly experimentation into glazes of oil paint, pigment and varnishes create highly worked surfaces over time, to produce images that waiver between representation and abstraction.
Exhibitions
Grenada Arts Council
Grenada Arts Council Inc
7 Young St, Gallery
St Georges
Joan organised and ran three hour drawing workshops weekly which were aimed at young students and supported in part by a subvention from the government of Grenada through the Ministery of Education.
Her Grenadian paintings were exhibited at the gallery in a mixed show.
Title: Verdome. 40 x 100cm
Medium: Oil on canvas.
A small village in the mountains.
Modigliani Centre, Florence
Serious Pleasure
An exhibition of painting & sculpture from the Royal Academy Schools Alumni Association (RASAA) of London
At the Modigliani Centre, Florence
Title: Hexagonal shapes grouped like a cellular structure. 58 x 80cm
Medium: Acrylic on handmade paper.
Examines the effect of light refraction in water on the hexagonal shapes of partially submerged wire netting, recording the distortion and break up of the image.
Elements Art Gallery
Elements Art Gallery
Elements Art Gallery
Perth
Western Australia
Title: Alhambra Series. 110 x 103cm
Medium: Oil paint on canvas and various varnishes.
The painting draws upon the luxurious attention to detail taken from the metal lattice work to evoke the atmosphere and richness of Turkish interiors.
Xross-PolyNation
54 The Gallery, Mayfair
Elements Art Gallery
Xross-PolyNation Xcrossing Nation with Art. New Delhi
Support of the British High Commission office in New Delhi
Mixed Exhibition
Title: Blitz of dazzling light. 110 x 103cm
Medium: Acrylic on thick hand made paper.
The image features sharp sunlight bouncing off the surface of the water, creating a spiralling effect.
54 The Gallery, Mayfair
54 The Gallery, Mayfair
54 The Gallery, Mayfair
A Quality of Light
54 The Gallery, Shepard Market, Mayfair, London
Six painters met in Tuscany at Verrocchio Arts Centre to paint from the surrounding landscape. The following year all works were exhibited at 54 The Gallery
Title: View of Casole D’Elsa. 20 x 18cm
Medium: Pre-prepared oil based surface paper and drawing with highlighters and permanent markers.
Freeze Frame
54 The Gallery, Mayfair
54 The Gallery, Mayfair
The Women’s City Exhibition
At the Royal College of Art. London
Title: Figure within an interior. 70 x 70cm
Medium: Oil on Board.
Pearl Slipper
Caroline Morris
Millinery & Art
59 Kings Road,
St Leonards on Sea
East Sussex
Solo exhibition
Title: Herichun, Echinoidea sea urchin. 30 x 30cm
Medium: Sealed chalk pastel on canvas.
Burton Gallery, St Leonards
Burton Gallery
5 Marine Court St, St Leonards-on-sea TN38 0HX
Title: Falling
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Joan’s paintings are available for purchase from the Burton Gallery.
Other Exhibitions
Other Exhibitions
Royal Academy Summer Show (multiple entries)
Lincolnshire & Humberside Art. Travel Exhibition
Discerning Eye Mall Galleries London
Gallery 47, London W1 Solo Exhibition
Irish Nepalese Educational Trust Annual Exhibition
Royal Academy Schools Alumni Exhibition
Royal Overseas League (multiple entries)
Burlington Fine Art, Piccadilly
Ash Barn Gallery, Petersfield
Society for Art of Imagination
Laing Art Exhibition, Mall Galleries
Spirit of London Art Exhibition
Australia - Solo Exhibition & several group shows
SELECTED AWARDS
David Murray Travel Scholarship
Royal Overseas League
Landseer Landscape Priz