Dale Lewis
Lewis’ figurative, mural-scale works are explicitly influenced by the symbolic conventions and compositional drama of Medieval and Renaissance painting, wherein the plane is dominated by the dynamic intertwining of bodies and punctuated by emblematic tokens of sin, virtue and status.
This is combined with the artist’s personal encounters and acute eye for the everyday human dramas that play out in the urban environments he frequents, and filtered through a distinct authorial subject position as a white, gay male of working-class upbringing possessing the satirical, good-natured-but-brutal sense of humour that characterizes much British creative output.
The result is a visual language equal parts Martin Parr meets Chris Morris, Rembrandt-cum-Basquiat; plausibly grotesque, amplified to absurdity, narrative-laden and energetically complex.
Born in London, 1980. Lives and works in London.
EDUCATION
2006 University of Brighton, Grand Parade, Brighton, East Sussex BN1, MA Fine Art
2002 London Guildhall University, London EC3N 2EY, BA (Hons) Fine Art
2000 Liverpool John Moores University, BA Fashion and Textiles
Selected Exhibitions
2016
- Hope Street, Choi&Lager, Seoul, South Korea
- Jerwood Painting fellowships, Jerwood space, London
- Ad Minoliti/Dale Lewis, Edel Assanti Gallery, London
- Nada NY solo booth/Edel Assanti. Pier 36, Basket Ball City, New York
2015
- Summer Show, Turps Gallery, London
- Art Car Boot Fair, London
- Spring Show, No 4A Gallery, Malvern
- The future can wait, Art Bermondsey Project Space, London
- New London figurative, Charlie Smith, London
2014
- A Remembered Dream, The Invisible Line Gallery, London
- TIAF, The Rag Factory, London
2012
- To Your Health, Lomography Gallery, London
2011
- Heroes and Villains, The VZ Gallery, London
2009
- Drench/Absorb, Oblong Gallery, London
- Drawing, Magatzems, Valencia
2008
- In War at War, Art Space, Illinois
2007
- Possible Preparation, Grey Area, Brighton
2006
- Giving Birth to Monsters, UOB Gallery, Brighton
2005
- Erotica, The Basement, Brighton
Awards
2015/16 Award – Jerwood painting fellowship 15/16
Talk
In conversation with Norman Rosenthal 04/06/16. (Online Soon)
Coq au vin | 2016, Oil, Acrylic and Spray Paint on Canvas, 200x400 cm
Hope Street | 2016, Oil, Acrylic and Spray Paint on Canvas, 200x400 cm
Pepperoni | 2016, Oil, Acrylic and Spray Paint on Canvas, 200x400 cm
Shrine | 2016, Oil, Acrylic and Spray Paint on Canvas, 200x400 cm
Three Kings | 2017, Oil, Acrylic and Spray Paint on Canvas, 200x400 cm
Bow Belle | 2017, Oil, Acrylic and Spray Paint on Canvas, 200x400 cm
Champagne | 2017, Oil, Acrylic and Spray Paint on Canvas, 200x400 cm
Liver & Bacon | 2017, Oil, Acrylic and Spray Paint on Canvas, 200x400 cm