Tess Gilmartin is a Wirral based visual artist who creates drawings and paintings inspired by the world around her. Using bright colour palettes and confident gestural mark making, Gilmartin makes joyful art to celebrate the things she loves, such as people, animals and flowers.
Studio Me
Gilmartin is part of Studio Me, Blue Room’s artist development project. Through this she received mentoring from acclaimed artist, Tanya Raabe Webber. Together, the artists explored different methods of drawing, mark making and painting.
In March 2024 she was commissioned by the Bluecoat to share her largest work to date; ‘Horse Big’ as an outdoor billboard on the exterior of the building. Following this the global cosmetic retailer LUSH selected the design to adorn their 2024 advent calendar box. As part of Liverpool’s first Neurodiversity Arts Festival in September 2024, Gilmartin celebrated her commission by producing the large scale window installation ‘Flowers in the Window’ in the city’s flagship Lush Spa store.
Her work has been selected for both local and national exhibitions for example at the Williamson Art Gallery. After exhibiting in the Level Centre’s open exhibition she won the People’s Choice award at arts centre in Derbyshire.
Exhibitions
The Year That Was, Bluecoat - December 2024
Level Open, Level Centre, Matlock, July 2024
Liverpool Art Fair, Liver Building, June 2024
Summer Show, Hamilton Vault Studios, Birkenhead, June 2024
Williamson Open, Williamson Art Gallery, Birkenhead, February 2024
Williamson Open, Williamson Art Gallery, Birkenhead, February 2023
Studio Me, Cass Art, Liverpool, October 2022
Studio Me and You, Output Gallery, Liverpool, September 2022
Williamson Open, Williamson Art Gallery, Birkenhead, February 2022
Awards and Commissions
Lush Advent Calendar, LUSH, 2024
Studio Me Billboard Commission, Bluecoat, 2024