Caroline Walker: Birth Reflections Trolley Books
In February 2022, Fitzrovia Chapel presented an exhibition of new large-scale paintings by artist Caroline Walker. The presentation followed her residency at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson maternity wing at University College Hospital (UCLH). Walker is known for paintings of women at work and often behind the scenes, from hotel maids to her own mother. In this body of work, Walker captured midwives, doctors, cleaners and mothers — inspired by a series of four paintings by Frederick Cayley Robinson, The Acts of Mercy. These large paintings, measuring 200 x 340cm each, originally hung in the foyer of the Middlesex Hospital, of which Fitzrovia Chapel is now the only remaining building. After the Middlesex Hospital was closed in 2005 and shortly after demolished. Walker presented three paintings at the exact same size as the Cayley Robinson’s within the chapel: Theatre, Ultrasound and Birthing Pool, as well as two smaller paintings: First Nappy Change and Newborn Check.
Alongside the exhibition at Fitzrovia Chapel, UCLH displayed ink drawings and oil sketches from Walker's time at the hospital in their ground floor exhibition space, visible externally from Euston Road. These included the oil sketches of the large paintings on view at the chapel.
This catalogue features images of the works in both exhibitions, an interview with Caroline Walker and Guy Noble (art curator at UCLH), and an essay by Hannah Watson (former Chair of Fitzrovia Chapel).
