Marlene Rolfe

About Marlene Rolfe

Many of Marlene Rolfe’s paintings refer to her family history, in particular her mother’s Berlin-Jewish heritage. She spent three years in a concentration camp before emigrating to Britain. Rolfe writes: “How can I deal visually with questions of the small action against the massive sweep of events; of personal, private histories and continuities, of female as opposed to male courage. Of women’s work and women’s language ...? There is an alternative approach to the public, heroic struggle with past and present of some male artists.”

Marlene Rolfe read English at New Hall from 1965 to 1968. She lives and works in London.

Family
1991
Oil on canvas, 91 x 76 cm
Donated by the artist, 1998

Kitchen
1997
Oil on canvas, 51 x 71 cm
Donated by the artist, 1998

Mum with Red Cup
1997
Oil on canvas, 51 x 71 cm
Donated by the artist, 1998