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Marvellous Suspension of Disbelief | Rebecca Swainston

The exhibition ‘Marvellous Suspension of Disbelief’ invites you to leave all your troubles at the door and enter the world of artist Rebecca Swainston, as she takes us on a magical journey, take a leap of faith and come in…….

In her new body of work Rebecca draws deeply on her experiences of a residency in Mexico City in late 2023 alongside the theme of the circus. Both become a metaphor in the paintings for taking risks and ‘imposter syndrome’. The title for the exhibition comes directly from this, however through the creative act she transforms this into a celebration of walking into the unknown. It speaks to our daily need to suspend disbelief and continue anyway.

The Mexico residency was an overwhelming experience. She says she painted quickly to capture what she saw. Her time there coincided with the annual Day of The Dead celebrations. The city was awash with people dressed up in exuberant costumes and marigold flowers. She was struck by how comfortable the Mexican people are with their own dreams and imagination.


There is a deep sense of personal evaluation in Rebecca’s figurative paintings which has formed the backbone of her practice for many years as she explores our collective sense of place in the world, physical and imaginary. In this incredibly rich exhibition, we delve deeper into these key themes of her practice and come to question our place in the performance of life.
Opening Times - Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5:30pm

Free admission, works for sale.
Sarah Wiseman Gallery 40/41 South Parade Summertown Oxford Oxfordshire OX2 7JL
Thu 13 Jun to Sat 6 July
Contact telephone: 01865 515123 Call to check latest times or cancellations.

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Sarah Wiseman Gallery, 40-41 South Parade, Summertown, Oxford Thu 13 June