ANNABEL MERRETT
Artist
London-based artist Annabel Merrett realised during a period of recovery that she had been a 'shadow artist', hovering around artists without confronting her own creativity. Stepping forward, Merrett began painting, later attending art school to learn sculpting. Based on observations and experiences of mental ill health, her work aims to present this charged topic digestibly, striving to produce compelling, even pleasing art that mirrors life.
Fascinated by the brain's workings, she explores how our unconscious mind motivates our behaviour, often compelling us to return, repeat, and do the very thing we wish to avoid and fear. Merrett's work is also based on neuro-scientific insights from MRI scans and psychological studies. This research fuels her art, addressing mental health prejudices and reflecting on a society that often confuses the unwell with the 'just' unhappy.
A landmark project is Mood States, exhibited at, among other places, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and The Museum of the Mind. Featuring a dozen head sculptures, each representing different mood states, the collection offers a physical manifestation of the mind's inner workings, assuring viewers they are not alone in their darkest thoughts. The collection will continue to tour institutions in 2024/5, extending beyond traditional art spaces as Merrett seeks to share its messages widely.
Merrett also works on private commissions, collaborating with clients to create personalised sculptures. Each piece takes up to three months. Contact: merrett.annabel@gmail.com.
Exhibitions
2024 The Gordon Museum of Pathology, King’s College London
2024 The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London
2024 The Royal College of Psychiatrists, London
2023 The Museum of the Mind, Bethlem
2023 The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London
Talks
2024 The Museum of the Mind, Bethlem
2024 The Museum of the Mind, Bethlem, transcript
2024 The Royal College of Psychiatrists, London
Q & A at The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Interview
2024 by artist in residence, Adam Hines-Green, Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Podcast