DESMET, Anne RA RE, b. 1964 ~ Bailiol College, Oxford.
Original wood engraving on Gampi vellum paper. One of 25 artist’s proofs, numbered, titled and signed in pencil by the artist. Image size 165 x 247 mm. Paper size 253 x 375 mm. Mounted.
This work was commissioned by Bailliol College, Oxford in 1995 and is one of a set of 25 artist’s proofs. Desmet is engaged with the evolution of the urban landscape and its testimony to the aspirations and experiences of humanity. Her work ranges from small scale, detailed examinations to sweeping, often fantastical, panoramas viewed from a bird’s eye perspective as can be seen in this remarkable image.
She was born and brought up in Liverpool and gained her BFA and MA in Fine Art from Oxford and a Postgraduate Diploma in Printmaking from Central School of Art and Design. In 2011 she became the third wood engraver to be elected as a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in its 250 year history. Desmet’s works are in numerous public and private collections across the World including the Ashmolean Museum and the Whitworth Art Gallery. She has completed several important commissions including pieces for the British Museum, National Gallery, British Library, V & A, Bailliol and Worcester Colleges, Oxford, the Royal Mint and Dulwich College. She has had over 30 solo shows to date including three major retrospectives at the Ashmolean, the Whitworth and the Ex Libris Museum in Moscow.