Michael Roberts
dal 3/8/2007 al 15/9/2007
Segnalato da
3/8/2007
Michael Roberts
Chapter Gallery, Cardiff
Assembly: Art in the Bar
Assembly: Art in the Bar
"In my painting I am concerned with the effects of light, both natural and
artificial, upon the human face" says Michael Roberts about his own practice. His
hyper-real paintings of faces in close-up intrigue and fascinate by their attention
to detail and leave the viewer with an unsettling effect when first seen.
Roberts paints mainly from photographs and the way he handles the paint enhances
photographic distortions in order to emphasise the formal and aesthetic qualities of
the image. His aim is to combine technology and traditional painting methods to
create images that would not otherwise be possible. He explores a reality with his
paintings which goes beyond the desire for pure naturalism. In more recent works the
artist has been concentrating on the way the features of the face and the skin act
as an object within a portrait.
For Chapter, Roberts will create a new site-specific large-scale painting of a human
face which will be shown alongside existing work. These paintings of faces in
extreme close-up will challenge the viewer's perception of reality and identity and
reveal the power that lies within the expression of a human face.
Biography
Michael Roberts graduated with an MA in Fine Art from the University of Wales,
Aberystwyth in 2006 and is currently undertaking a PhD in Fine Art at the same
institution.
His work has been shown in a number of group exhibitions, including 'The MA and
other Post Graduates Art Exhibition', Millfield Atkinson Gallery, Somerset, 2007;
'Liberte d'Expression', Canary Wharf, London, 2006; 'Boundary Art Prize for
Figurative Art', Boundary Gallery, London, 2006; 'Big Draw Competition', The
National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, 2003 and 'BP Portrait Award', National
Portrait Gallery, 2003. Roberts came 2nd place in the Boundary Art Prize for
Figurative Art 2006.
The artist lives and works in Cardigan, West Wales.
Image: Michael Roberts, Mimi, 2006. Oil on canvas, 90x90cm.
Chapter Gallery
Market Road - Cardiff
Opening Times: Monday - Sunday 9am-10.30pm