IAG Exhibition Preview: Ian Friend & Nathan Shepherdson
Ian Friend | Poet (Nathan Shepherdson) 2024-2025
Private Collection | Photography, Carl Warner
19 Sep 2026
Ian Friend | Poet (Nathan Shepherdson) 2024-2025
Private Collection | Photography, Carl Warner
| Dates | Saturday 19 September |
|---|---|
| Times | 4:00pm - 4:45pm |
| Cost | FREE |
| Booking | RSVP required (book via link below) |
| Age | Recommended for ages 12 and up |
Join artist Ian Friend and poet Nathan Shepherdson for a preview of IAG's exhibition, 'The Noise of Time.'
Join artist Ian Friend and poet Nathan Shepherdson as they preview Ipswich Art Gallery's latest exhibition, The Noise of Time.
Tour the exhibition with Friend and Shepherdson, as they discuss the inspirations behind the 30 years of Ian Friend's artistic practice showcased in this exhibition.
The Noise of Time presents works from different stages of Ian Friend's life, reflecting on the passage of time, and connecting the energy and ambition of youth with the insight and experience gained over decades.
Throughout his career, Friend has drawn inspiration from literature, poetry, philosophy, music, and the natural world. This has included the work of creative peers, such as Nathan Shepherdson's publication, deadlight blisters write prescriptions in glass.
Sign in at the Ipswich Art Gallery front desk prior to making your way to the Exhibition Gallery
Then, join us afterwards for the exhibition's Opening Event, 19 September 2026. RSVP COMING SOON.
Artist, Ian Friend. Photography, Katie Bennett. Courtesy of Jan Manton Gallery.
Ian Friend
Ian Friend is an Ipswich-based artist whose finely crafted works on paper explore the expressive potential of pigment, ink and gouache. Deeply invested in the physical qualities of his materials, Friend works with handmade papers sourced from around the world, combining exceptional craftsmanship with techniques honed over a lifetime of practice.
While the material surface is central to his work, Friend’s imagery is equally shaped by a wide range of cultural influences, including jazz, poetry and architecture. His interdisciplinary approach has led to collaborations and creative exchanges with figures such as poet Jeremy Prynne and composer Martin Friedel, enriching a practice that balances technical precision with intellectual and emotional depth.
Image Courtesy of the Artist.
Nathan Shepherdson
Nathan Shepherdson is the author of ten books of poetry. His most recent titles are soft meteorites (Upswell) and axolotl waltz (Puncher and Wattmann).
Related programs
Ian Friend | Wound Response #1 2024-2025. Gouache, ink on Khadi paper. Collection of the artist + Jan Manton Gallery | Photography, Carl Warner.
The Noise of Time
19 Sep 2026 — 29 Nov 2026
COMING SOON - An exhibition of works on paper by Ipswich based Artist, Ian Friend.
Zoe Porter, Umi (Artist Book), 2021. Ink, watercolour on paper, cover. Image Courtesy of the Artist.
IAG Masterclass: Ink Painting with Zoe Porter
31 Oct 2026 — 31 Oct 2026
Experiment with inks to create your own concertina artist book with Zoe Porter!