Jo Rose
25 - 31 March 2026
Private View on Friday 27th, 6–8pm. All Welcome
Contemporary British artist Jo Rose unveils Year of the Horse, a compelling new exhibition at Spring Cheltenham, the acclaimed artist‑run gallery in the Montpellier district. Bringing together a series of powerful mixed‑media works, the collection explores the horse as both a cultural symbol and a profoundly personal metaphor for resilience, movement, and transformation.
Drawing on the curves, flows and forests of the South-West English landscape and the long‑standing equestrian heritage of Cheltenham, Rose’s practice blends sculptural mark‑making, layered materials, and arts‑and‑crafts influences to create richly textured surfaces that pulse with energy. Her work sits at the intersection of contemporary expressionism and tactile craft, offering a fresh, emotionally charged interpretation of one of Britain’s most enduring artistic subjects.
Set within Spring Cheltenham’s distinctive rotunda gallery, the exhibition creates an immersive environment that amplifies the work's physicality and presence. While rooted in place, Year of the Horse speaks to resonating themes: grief, healing, and the quiet power of renewal. Each piece reflects Rose’s own journey through loss and recovery, woven into the wildlife and landscapes that shape her daily life.
With its fusion of contemporary technique and emotional depth, Year of the Horse positions Jo Rose as an exciting voice in the evolving landscape of British art.
Artist Statement
Jo Rose is a Hampshire-born contemporary artist whose work spans an extraordinary emotional and physical range — from delicate, contemplative pieces to raw, explosive large-scale works. She has exhibited extensively in London and across the South West, bringing her evocative, powerful work to a broad national audience.
Her practice is rooted in nature, folklore, and music, transforming fleeting moments into richly layered, deeply emotive worlds. Inspired by the colours, textures, and wildlife of her surrounding landscapes, Rose captures intimate snapshots of her walks through photography and sketchbooks. These moments become the foundation for her art, evolving in the studio into opulently textured, enchanting paintings. Guided by music, her process is both instinctual and cathartic — a visceral, physical reaction that fuels her creative flow. Some days this leads to intricate, meditative works that are quiet, reflective, and full of delicate details and ethereal narrative, inviting viewers to look closer and uncover hidden elements beneath the surface. Other days, it drives her to create bold, untamed pieces — explosions of movement and raw energy where form and texture collide in a riot of mark-making and vibrant expression.
