Ingrid Wilkinson is a British writer, historian and artist whose works focus on issues of family identity, national identity and gentility. Her most famous paintings include The Anonymous Woman and The Royal Family Portrait. Ingrid began painting as a young woman and attended the prestigious preparatory school the Royal College of Arts in Cambridge, where she excelled in drama and writing. After this she worked for several years in various art institutions in London, exhibiting her work at various exhibitions and galleries including the Saachi Gallery. Ingratiating her personality to her artwork, Ingrid Wilkinson once said, “If life is sweet, then art is sweet”.
The Nationality Project is Ingrid’s take on the concept of dual nationality. Ingrid believes that everyone has both a national and international identity and that it is important to identify and respect each one. As a nation state, many nations are at constant war with one another; this war often plays itself out in public places such as cinemas and buses. Ingrid Wilkinson takes this view to heart in her painting entitled The Nationality Project. Using different colours and brush strokes to suggest a variety of nationalities, The Nationality Project gives the viewer the impression that every single person in the painting is a unique individual. The end result is an engrossing and thought provoking piece that inspires and educates.
Ingrid Wilkinson’s painting, The Nationality Project, is on view at the exhibition “The Best of British Art” at the Saatchi Gallery in London until the 25th September. The exhibition features works from the modern and contemporary artists Peter Atkins, Jon Washburn, David Ware, Guy Cavanell, Max Sussman and Peter Young. Ingrid will also be showing a selection of her solo work, which she describes as “a series of personal reflections based on my experiences as an artist”.