Artist Josie Jenkins hosts Wavertree show with work that’s ‘unapologetically bargain priced’

Liverpool-based artist Josie Jenkins is hosting a Wavertree art show that aims to make contemporary pieces in the city more accessible and affordable.

Sell Out will feature a single artwork from more than 20 Merseyside artists – and Josie says every one will be for sale at an ‘unapologetically bargain price’.

Josie, 45, from Aigburth, who’s renowned for her large scale paintings of interior and landscape settings using oil and acrylics, says:

“I’m always trying to experiment and work out how you can sell art in the area, and this is all contemporary art so it’s not the kind of work you get in other shows or art fairs.

“I’ve asked all the artists to try to put something in that’s, firstly, a good price, and that someone will actually want to buy.”

She smiles:

“I think there are a lot of art enthusiasts in Liverpool that don’t necessarily have tons of money to spend on it, so I’m hoping it will be supported by people who maybe can’t afford a painting for £200, but might be able to buy one for, say, £70.

“I’m not saying that everything will be dirt cheap, but there might be works on paper and other pieces that are definitely under £100 and that people can realistically buy.

“And it’s a bit of fun!”

Josie adds:

“Artists really love selling work but they get anxious about undervaluing themselves. This is a one-off show in the spirit of that, and a one-off event that will enable people to get a wall-based work by the likes of Rich Meaghan or Pete Clarke that they will really appreciate.”

Sell Out is part of A Weekend of Art at Wellington Yard, a new community space in Wavertree.

And whether you’re an art collector, an artist, or an art enthusiast, the aim is to showcase contemporary art and local talent, while highlighting Wellington Yard as a new space for creative output.

Two other exhibitions include:

* The Joy of Painting produced by Gareth Kemp, and showcasing artists from across the UK who use a diverse range of painting styles and techniques to celebrate the joy of the medium

* Socially Distanced – presented by 50MV, a Waterloo-based gallery run by Luke Skiffington. Again featuring artists from across the UK, it presents diverse approaches to contemporary sculpture

The Weekend of Art will be held from Friday, March 21 to Sunday, March 23, and there’ll be a licensed bar throughout the weekend, and live acoustic music.

“I put on exhibitions quite a lot, I’m quite a social artist which is unusual,” says Josie. “And I like to include early career artists who’ve maybe just graduated. I choose people whose work I think is really good and that’s the only measure I can come up with.

“If I can see someone’s potential, I’ll try and amplify that and give them a chance to be seen.

“Liverpool has so many artists now and my thing is to try and recognise a talent and give them an opportunity.

“This is that occasion.”

Local artists who will be exhibiting in Sell Out include Josie herself, Brendan Lyons, Jason Hollis, Anna Ketskemety, Colette Lilley and Jon Barraclough, and customers will have the chance to buy online as well as in person.

“This is what’s going on right now in the city,” says Josie. “It’s hot off the press.

“And as well as the chance to buy contemporary art, it’s an opportunity for the community to get together.

“Admission is free. As well as the bar, we’ll have tea and coffee on sale and, while we’d love it if you’d buy a drink, we won’t even make you do that.”