A group of people in a Studio Voltaire's modern, minimalist art gallery. They are gathered around a piece of art near a white wall, listening to a person speaking. Light floods in from large windows, and some artwork is visible in the background.

Saturday Talks: Thomas Kennedy on Jake Grewal

Thomas Kennedy, Curator of Modern British Art, Tate Britain, leads a tour of Jake Grewal’s Under The Same Sky.

In his practice, Grewal draws from Western canons of painting, deftly harnessing the languages of Romanticism and suffusing them with a queer gaze. Sketching from Old Master paintings informs the way in which the artist constructs many of his images, and his far-reaching interests extend from British Neo-Romantic artists such as Keith Vaughan, Prunella Clough, and Graham Sutherland to painters such as Corot, Degas and Monet; artists for whom a deeply evocative relationship to the natural world was central.

For this special talk, Kennedy will draw from his own research interests to lead a special introductory talk within the gallery, during the final weekend of Under The Same Sky.

  1. Thomas Kennedy is Curator of Modern British Art, Tate Britain. He is currently curating a major retrospective on British surrealist artist Edward Burra, opening in June 2025. His projects include the exhibition Walter Sickert (2022) and displays After Industry: Communities in Northern England 1960s–1980s (2022) and Ethel Walker (2023-4). At Tate Britain, he has played an active role in diversifying the collection, leading on acquisitions from Gwen John to David Robilliard, as well as conducting collection research into the representation of queer artists in the modern period.

  2. This event is standing, and takes place in the gallery. Large font guides and additional seating are available at the front desk.

    If you have any questions or need assistance with your visit please feel welcome to contact us on +44 (0) 20 7622 1294 or email info@studiovoltaire.org.

    Read Studio Voltaire's full access information here.

Suggested donation £5

Saturday 12 April 2025, 3–3.30 pm

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Jake Grewal
Under The Same Sky

Exhibition
Two people stand in a gallery observing a large painting by Jake Grewal. The artwork depicts a landscape with rocks, water, and several figures under a blue sky with clouds. The gallery has white walls and a concrete floor.

Philip Hoare and Jake Grewal in conversation

Event
A person in a blue shirt and jeans stands in front of a large painting By Jake Grewal that depicts a rocky beach scene with vibrant clouds. The painting is displayed on a white wall inside a gallery space.

Online panel: Luke Syson, Jake Grewal and Doron Langberg in conversation

Event
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Jake Grewal, 'Healing the Heart' socks

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