About

 Contact: jilleastland@gmail.com

@jillrebelarts.bsky.social     @jilleastland on Insta / Threads

My work is strongly research based, usually beginning with a social, political or environmental issue of concern.  I rarely confine myself to one art form and often move from one media to another, being primarily led by the subject matter.  I enjoy making evident the artifices of different media and the links between them, for example painting from photographs of a film shown on television and including the screen’s frame and the lines of interference produced on the camera. I particularly favour painting and drawing, but also produce text based work, installations, sculpture and textiles.  I often employ multiples, to create a more detailed discussion of a theme and I tend to produce open-ended bodies of work, as well as finished pieces.  My work is often very detailed and can contain elements of realism and abstraction together.

I enjoy collecting things and these collections are often incorporated in my work. Often the things I collect are used as painting surfaces, for instance I have collected hundreds of coloured plastic bottle tops and painted miniatures of endangered species on them. There is usually an installation aspect to my work, so that things are displayed in ways which are sensitive to the social and physical environment in which they are placed.    I have a strong sense of place and frequently exhibit work in less conventional spaces that are more accessible to a wider audience.  I have worked in venues, such as warehouses, pubs and museums, as well as art galleries.  I am very keen on working collaboratively and being active in my local community and often work on projects with groups of artist who might not otherwise have opportunities to access resources or exhibit and sell work.   I enjoy sharing ideas and leading or assisting with workshops and discussions

I am currently producing textiles, drawings and paintings about Palestine and I am working on a mural for Palestine on the outer walls of an old pub that is now home to Cambridge Community Kitchen.  I have also been painting Women’s scars.  I painted my own scar after I had a full hysterectomy and called it the ” The Last Cut”, relating it to historical violence against my body.  I asked my women friends to send me pictures of their scars, so that I could paint them and tell their stories.  I was overwhelmed by the response and it feels like a really healing process to gently and carefully paint their bodies and their wounds.