Celebrated artist Jock McFadyen is opening a corner of his London Fields studio to show his paintings of East London.
A deserted skate park and a barely populated Shoreditch High Street are among four recent pictures to go on display under the title Red Yellow and Blue.
It will be the first of a series at the Royal Academician's Grey Gallery in Helmsley Place, showing works which reflect his continuing fascination with the changing landscape and people of Hackney where he has lived and worked for 45 years.
The largest work, Sam Skab and Sofa measures 3.5m wide, while Hackney Interior, depicting bikes, a dog and a bearded figure, is less than a metre wide. McFadyen is known for landscapes where, despite the absence of people, the works are full of the ghosts of human activity - from graffiti and litter to shop signs and posters.
But two recent paintings on show next month reflect his interest in revisiting the human figure in his work.
The 72-year-old was born in Paisley and attended Saturday morning classes at Glasgow School of Art as a teen. He moved to England at the age of 15, and later attended Chelsea School of Art in the early 70s. McFadyen's early work is associated with figures from marginalised groups of society in Chicago, New York, Belfast, London and Edinburgh.
In 1991 he made a series in response to the dismantling of the Berlin wall and since the 1990s he has largely focused on man-made often monumental scale urban landscapes; dilapidated industrial sites, abandoned buildings and deserted streets. His work is held in public collections such as the Tate, V&A and the British Museum, as well as many private collections and he has had numerous solo shows included a series in 2020 marking his 70th year.
Red Yellow and Blue: Four Pictures is a free exhibition running from March 18 to May 14 at Grey Gallery, Jock McFadyen Studio, 4 Helmsley Place, E8. Open Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm or outside weekends by appointment info@thegreygallery.com. 07910359087.
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