“FIGURE IT OUT” EXHIBITION BEGINS TONIGHT

The Leontia Gallery presents Figure It Out an exhibition exploring contemporary figurative painting, from 10^th of May until 31^st May.

In an era of digital culture where every artist is the master of their own publicity, the Figure It Out exhibition aims to explore the significance of painting and the numerous possibilities painting has to offer.

For the first time in London, leading contemporary artists from across the world have come together to discuss, through their artistic practice, the past, present and the future of painting.

The artwork exhibiting at Leontia Gallery is a collection of pieces from re-workings of old masters like John Singer Sargent, homages of the pop-art powerhouse that is Warhol to painting embracing glitter to paint by numbers.

Highlights include: 

·     Benjamin Thomas Taylor is known for his ‘Paint by Number’ series with bright, Pop Art inspired landscapes.

·      South African artist Frans Smit who offers a fresh reading of traditional portraiture, mixing street art and classical styles he completely reinvents old masters

·      Award-winning artist, Smit, with an international hub of collectors. Mentored by Lucien Freud, the late artist has had a lasting effect on Smit’s work

·      London born Eugene Ankomah’s selection of had drawn digital “Brain-Wave” paintings are playful yet with sinister undertones. The artist explores relevant contemporary themes around terrorism, fear and social manipulation. Eugene Ankomah is widely collected, notable collectors include, Dame Kelly Holmes, Dizzie Rascal and Chiwetel Ejiofor

·       The work of UK artist Carp Matthew is a horror to behold, magnificently disturbing in the most deskbound of ways. The comparison with Francis Bacon is easy to make, but the domesticity of Matthew’s grotesque makes it all the more frightening.

·      UK artist Lee Ellis is presenting 6 portraits of some of the great modern masters, Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Van Gogh, and Warhol

·      Critically acclaimed Magnus Gjoen, previously under the wing of Vivienne Westwood, will be showing pieces based on the religious martyr Saint Sebastian. Gjoen’s work often references renaissance and neo-classical paintings re-working them into contemporary settings and scenes.

Art enthusiasts from collectors to novices will be invited to attend the mesmerizing preview night on 10^th May between 18:00 – 21:00 at 1 Queens Parade, Willesden Lane, NW2 5HT

Each guest will have the chance to meet some of the world’s leading contemporary artists and hear the inspiration behind their collections.   

For art connoisseurs looking to buy their first piece Leontia Reilly, the founder of Leontia Gallery, will be offering private viewings and consultations to talk through the artwork whilst sharing industry insight on investing in art.

The Leontia Gallery is dedicated to the promotion of contemporary art from exceptional emerging and established artists. Visit www.leontiagallery.com.