The Croydonist showcase the limited edition artist prints by Turf Projects

If you are like me and are rather disorganised when it comes to Christmas, and still have gifts to buy for friends who like art, then this is definitely for you. Turf Projects have released a new set of limited edition prints from eight established and emerging artists with Croydon connections, just in time for you to finish your Christmas shopping.

Harold Offeh, detail

In the unlikely event you haven’t come across Turf Projects before, it was founded back in 2013 by Croydon locals, and is the first entirely artist-run contemporary art space in the borough. As a registered charity, Turf has supported the work of over 400 artists to date through a programme of free public exhibitions, workshops and events. We featured Turf here when they were in their original Keeley Road home, and again here when they moved into their current space in the Whitgift Centre.

Emma Hart, detail

The limited edition artworks are super desirable – each is printed on a specially selected paper and signed by the artist. They are available in a run of only 30 each, priced at £50 (or you can get the whole set for a specially discounted price). The prints have been produced to help Turf build up their reserves so they can offer better stability for everyone they support going forward, as well as to keep their programmes running and free.

So in buying a print, you not only get a beautiful piece of art, but help out a local charity to boot.

The prints can be purchased online, or you can pop by Turf this week to buy, before they close for the Christmas period on Saturday (21 December). Make sure you also check out their range of other artist-designed gifts.

Holly Graham

The featured artists

Jesse Darling, ‘Help holding the pain cup’ (2019) // Turf Friend and artist of solo show ‘The Ballad of Saint Jerome’ at Tate Britain, has produced a drawing, printed in-house on textured off-white paper. Much of Jesse’s recent work has explored vulnerability and disability experience and their inextricable links to social and political contexts.

Pinkxbrains, ‘Youth in Revolt’ (2019) // Pinkxbrains, Croydon-based member of Turf youth collective Art Press, continues their signature tongue-in-cheek intuitive collage work with ‘Youth in Revolt’, digitally printed on 135gsm CP Pale Grey paper.

Left: Pinkxbrains. Right: Jesse Darling

Chris Alton, ‘A Font Made from the Silhouettes of Migratory Birds’ (2019) // Chris is an artist and the founder of English Disco Lovers (EDL). He is also Head of Public Realm Projects at Turf. Chris’ edition features his own handmade font of migratory birds, digitally printed on blue cloud effect 215gsm card.

Emma Hart, ‘How Can I Help You’ (2019) // Max Mara Art Prize prize-winning artist and Croydon School of Art alumnus, has produced a work inspired by her time working at River Island in Croydon’s Whitgift Centre. ‘How Can I Help You?’ is digitally printed on 215gsm pearlescent silver spillo dimpled paper.

Left: Chris Alton. Right Emma Hart

Harold Offeh, ‘Croydon Keeps Turning’ (2019) // Artist of recent Turf exhibition ‘Croydon Plays Itself’ (a collaboration with Museum of Croydon), has reimagined one of the works from the exhibition, ‘Croydon Keeps Turning’, as a vibrant high gloss c-type print.

Holly Graham, ‘After Harry Jacobs: Framed Wide By Our Surroundings’ (2019) // Artist and co-founder of Cypher Billboard project; Holly is also Head of Artist Development at Turf. Holly’s overlapping set of prints builds on previous work made around the archive of South London based photographer Harry Jacobs, attempting to engage with histories we come across in archives. Printed on recycled paper containing cut grass and marigold petals.

Left: Harold Offeh. Right: Holly Graham, detail

Alice Channer, ‘Heavy Metals’ (2019) // Alice exhibited at Turf earlier this year with solo show ‘Birthing Pool’. ‘Heavy Metals’ is a striking pearlescent silver print, continuing to develop themes and methods first explored in the printed materials for her exhibition here.

Joseph Brown, ‘Mandible Gathering’ (2019) // With a practice concerned with the inhabitants and habitats of the natural world, Joseph Brown is a UAL student, Croydon School of Art graduate and member of Turf collective MOSS. ‘Mandible Gathering’ has been printed on elephant dung paper (Turf promises it doesn’t smell of dung!).