By Carolyn Kain
Promoting the aims of two community groups based in the Algarve – ARC Horse Welfare and Riding for the Disabled – last weekend an exhibition of ‘equine elegance’ was held at Galeria Corte-Real in Paderne.
The event celebrated the sculptures and paintings of acclaimed artist April Young, who arrived from England to attend the opening of her show. Heralded as one of Britain’s finest talents, her work has been displayed at London’s Royal Academy of Art.
The child of an unhappy marriage – often gazing from the window of her family’s council flat – she was engrossed by a group of Romany horses tethered on a stretch of wasteland.
The fascination continued and from this unlikely background, using her exceptional artistic skills, April has created impressive architectural projects and life-size bronze horses for corporate and private clients.
Her ceramic masterpieces exhibited at Côrte-Real are sculpted from clay, overlaid with designs and script, burnished with oxides and sparkle with metallic lustres.
Examples of April’s work will be on permanent display at the gallery, which is open Thursday to Sunday, 11am until 5pm. 912 737 762
