You searched for damien hirst - a-n The Artists Information Company

Rachel Howard’s paintings reference an unstable and violent world, drawing on political events and the devastation of war. With two current London exhibitions at Blain Southern and Newport Street Gallery, Fisun Güner talks to the artist about what inspires her work and how her early experience painting spots for Damien Hirst influenced her approach.

We asked this year’s Venice Biennale a-n travel bursary recipients and AIR Council members attending the biennale preview to tell us what their highlights were. They came back with 26 different recommendations – and a few repeats.

Dale Lewis is one of three Jerwood Painting Fellows currently exhibiting work at Jerwood Space, London. He talks to Fisun Guner about working with mentor Dan Coombs, his mind-crushing experience as an artist’s assistant, and what inspires his open, chaotic and darkly humorous paintings.

Six a-n writers – based in Glasgow, Manchester and London – pick, in no particular order, their top five exhibitions of the year.

Turner Contemporary’s Self exhibition looks at artists’ self-portraits from the 17th century to the present day, exploring the changing way artists have seen themselves – and society has seen artists. Dany Louise reports from Margate.

Despite a major Kurt Schwitters’ show at Tate Britain last year, the future of the German artist’s Merz Barn in Cumbria remains uncertain. Ian Hunter of the Littoral Trust, which bought the dilapidated barn building in 2006, explains how things stand with the project and why the continued involvement of artists is key to its future.

As the art world descends on London for the 13th Frieze Art Fair, we take a snapshot of art fair activity happening across the capital this week.