The Colours Between - Julia Ball

A rare chance to see a selection of large paintings from private collections. This show marks the launch of a new book : The Colours Between - The Life and Work of Julia Ball 1930 - 2025. About This show at Openspace is a rare chance to see a selection of Julia Ball’s large paintings borrowed from private collections. These will be shown alongside supporting study material exploring Julia's process towards the finished work. The poet Wendy Mulford described Julia Ball's painting as "the visual equivalence of meditation." Her subtly colored, light-filled pictures have a transcendent quality that induces a state of calm. Julia Ball (1930–2025) was an influential abstract artist well loved in Cambridge. Her painting style distilled the landscapes of East Anglia into pure, luminous fields of colour. She would spend hours meticulously observing a single outdoor spot until the physical structures faded away, leaving only pure, light-filled color fields. Instead of literal scenes, she captured the essence of light and space. This show coincides with another exhibition of stunning new discoveries from Julia’s remaining collection at The Old Fire Engine House Gallery, Ely (Friday 16th October 6pm - 8pm to Sunday 15th November 2026) where Julia exhibited for many years. Book Launch : The Colours Between - The Life and Work of Julia Ball 1930 - 2025. A new book edited by Liz Rothschild featuring contributions from notable figures from Cambridge art, poetry, and academic scenes including Wendy Mulford, Elspeth Owen, Denise Riley, Amy Tobin, Harriet Tarlo, and Harriet Lofler, will be launched at the show. On 18th October 3-4 pm there’ll be a ticketed book launch event at Openspace for please check camopen.space or juliaball.org websites for details. Places will be limited. An arresting publication drawing on Julia’s early work, sketchbooks, teaching materials and journals and describing her life as an artist, art teacher, activist and creative collaborator. A rich array of images catalogues her development from art school into printmaking and towards her final hugely ambitious large canvases and the many photographs document her home and studio, portraits of her and her family and many projects with which she was engaged. Read more Toggle Painting