Iwan Bala

Iwan Bala (born Richard Iwan Ellis Roberts, May 1956) is a Welsh artist.

Early life and education Iwan Bala was born Richard Iwan Ellis Roberts in born May 1956 in Sarnau, Merionethshire, near Bala. He was raised in Gwyddelwern, near Corwen, Denbighshire. Bala is Welsh-speaking.

He attended Ysgol y Berwyn comprehensive school in Bala. He studied geography and politics at the University of Aberystwyth from 1974, then from 1975 until 1977 he studied fine art at Cardiff College of Art. He gained an MA in fine art from the University of Wales Institute Cardiff in 1993.

Career and practice In 1990 Bala became artist-in-residence at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. In 1993 he presented the S4C arts programme .

Bala creates his art-work using memorised and imagined maps and landscapes, commenting on Welsh culture. He was a member of the Ysbryd/Spirit group of painters, formed by John Uzzell Edwards.

Recognition and awards Bala has won many prizes, including the Gold Medal in Fine Art at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1997 (and a prize winner in 1988, 1989 and 1993). He won the Glyndŵr Award in 1998, "for outstanding contributions to the arts in Wales".

Collections Bala's work is held in many public and private collections, including the National Museum Wales (Derek Williams Trust), the Museum of Modern Art Wales, the Imperial War Museum, the Contemporary Art Society for Wales, Newport Museum and Art Gallery, Y Gaer, A Fundacion Casa Museo "A Solaina" de Pilono, Galicia, The University of Glamorgan and The National Library of Wales. Welsh Art Goes International, 1996 (Planet) Welsh Painters Talking, 1997 (Seren) Appropriate Behaviour, 1997 (Planet) ), 2000 (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch) Certain Welsh Artists, 1999 (Seren) here+now, 2004 (Seren) Groundbreaking – The Artist in the Changing Landscape, 2005 (Seren) ), 2007 (Gwasg Gomer)