A Design on Life

James Qualtrough | September 25, 2012 | 0 Comments

After two years spent studying in New York, a local designer and artist, whose celebrated work includes the two largest community art projects undertaken in the Islands, is enjoying a return to Jersey having gained his Masters in Fine Arts Degree.

For many years, Wayne Audrain was known for his design work at Jersey Heritage through his former role as Head of Design. This included many significant exhibitions and projects such as the Occupation Tapestry and Millennium Mosaic, along with a large number of temporary exhibitions during the course of his twenty-five year career. Wayne was also very much involved in the interpretation, design and project management of major museum developments for the Island, including the Jersey Museum, Maritime Museum, The Occupation Tapestry Gallery and, in more recent years, Mont Orgueil Castle.

Despite this success, in 2010, Wayne, and his wife Terry, embarked on a project of a different kind. Packing up their belongings and setting out on a new adventure the couple moved to the USA, where Wayne had accepted a coveted place at a top New York university, the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.

Wayne said of his decision to move across the Atlantic, ‘Having always pursued my artistic ambitions in tandem with my design work, it was a big decision for me to give up my job and look for the space to develop my art practice. I’ve been fortunate over the years to have exhibited my work on many occasions in Jersey and France. I now feel extremely privileged to be able to add New York to that list.’

During the two years spent studying in the city, Wayne was a recipient of the Pratt Circle award for academic excellence for written projects associated with this Liberal Arts degree, and on conclusion of the fine arts course, received an overall distinction in the award of an MFA in painting and drawing.

Wayne explained his distinctive style of work, ‘Spending over two years in a concentrated artistic environment and culture was both energising and thought provoking. My work developed rapidly on a practical and intellectual level, and reveals itself through a tradition of abstract minimalism. Its intent is to open a dialogue with the viewer through the aesthetic contents of the work. The work is essentially about a stillness and presence that speaks to us all. A spirituality that is universal.’

Wayne intends to develop his practice as an artist as well as accepting freelance design work, specifically exhibition related.

Wayne’s work can be presently viewed at David Hick Interiors who is representing the artist exclusively in Jersey.