Retro-style paintings toy with our nostalgia for mid-century modernism

Blakeley graduated from Leeds College of Art in 2016 with a first class BA (Hons) in Fine Art, and now returns for this special exhibition. Her artistic practice explores contemporary culture through painted collage, drawing together references from the 1950s until the present day.

A critical text will accompany the exhibition, written by Professor Derek Horton, Visiting Professor of Contemporary Art at Birmingham City University, and co-director of &model gallery, Leeds.

Lydia Blakeley was born in Reading in 1980, and now lives and works in Leeds. She previously worked in fashion retail for over a decade. This former life in retail has surreptitiously infiltrated her artistic practice, she uses painting as an investigation into the consumption of imagery and the desire for aspirational lifestyle ideals.

The exhibition runs until 14 April 2017 at Leeds College of Art’s Vernon Street Gallery, Leeds, LS2 8PH. To see more of the artist's work, visit lydiablakeley.com.