Between a Rock and a Soft Place, 2026

West Side Foyer, Winchester School of Art

The phrase ‘to be caught between a rock and a hard place’ is typically associated with being in a difficult situation with no satisfactory options and is thought to have originated in the early 20th century regarding miners’ poor working conditions. This exhibition title subverts the common saying into an emphasis on materiality - the soft and tactile fabrics on which Grant has painted, torn and stitched - as well as the subject matter depicted: rocks and the places they are found (caves, quarries & mountains). This contextualisation from object into the land we inhabit is integral to the conversations had between artworks, resulting in the exhibition before you today.

The ‘Blue Velvet’ triptych on the double height wall, displayed for the first time together, explores the transposition of details in small rocks to that of a landscape, taking into account the scale and grandeur traditionally associated with it. Through this expansion of marks and a playfulness with shape and colour, the rock’s initial embodied perception is altered. The softness in the velvet backing fabric is juxtaposed with the harshness of the initial subject matter, and so creates an interesting tactile dynamic. 

Solo show featuring works by Lucy Grant. 

Curated by Lucy Grant. Poster designed by Lucy Grant.