Dazed and Refused, an exhibition of work refused from the BP National Portrait Competition, is entering its second year with over 97 original works of art on show at the Arch Gallery in London’s East End from 20– 30^th June.

Started by Bob Sparrow and Adam Laurence, the exhibition provides the 2445 artists rejected from the strict academic selection process of the National Portrait Competition (only 55 are selected, from which one can win the £25,000 prize) with an opportunity to exhibit and sell their work.

The “Dazed” team has doubled the size of the exhibition this year by capturing rejected and dejected artists when they collect their work from a depot in Arnold Circus, Bethnal Green presenting them with a flyer inviting them to exhibit.  The artists, who had each already paid £34.00 to enter the BP competition, are more than happy to invest another £10.00 into the Dazed and Refused exhibition where their work is definitely shown and actively promoted through its website, which has attracted some 400,00 hits so far this year.  

The popularity of the website has led to a sale of work before it was even been hung on the walls.  The artist Malwina Charbocka sold her painting entitled "K.J.L”, a piece depicting the trauma of love and triumph of hope, through the “Dazed” website, for £940.00 to an anonymous buyer.

Sparrow and Laurence were encouraged to run the exhibition for a second year when they received a short email from artist John Adams who wrote: "Just been refused from the BP, never been happier lol"
 
Bob Sparrow remarked: "To achieve this level of optimism is a main aim of the show.  There are some incredible portraits this year it will be really interesting to compare it to the BP exhibition.   Dazed and Refused shows are arguably a broader selection of works and the policy of first come first served is the only criteria for entry.  There will be about 80 square metres of portraits on display this year. Buried amongst them are works that made it to the last 100 in the BP selection process - it is interesting to try and guess which ones they are.”
 
This year’s venue has a special significance.   The idea for the Arch Gallery in Bethnal Green began when artist Anthony Xuereb was dropping off his own rejected portrait into the 2011 exhibition at the Dazed and Refused HQ "Makers Yard" gallery under Cambridge Heath train station.  Anthony noticed vacant premises in the same block, took the lease over and built the gallery, going from a rejected painter to gallery owner in just 12 months.  

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