Winner of this year’s “It’s Art Call” competition, Manchester-based artist Ian Rayer-Smith presents a solo exhibition of new paintings and sculptures at D Contemporary Gallery, Mayfair, from 31 August to 9 September.
Strongly influenced by the work of the abstract expressionists and the romantic light of the old masters, Ian Rayer-Smith’s paintings effortlessly fuse abstraction, the figurative and the surreal.
Using classical references, he manipulates and transforms them until they lose their initial context and produce new meaning, ultimately revealing the physicality and sensory nature of the materials.
“I like my paintings to carry an emotional charge, not only in its subject matter but also through the energy and visceral nature of the materials I use. Soft and amorphous, they accentuate the tactile feel of nature, avoiding any sense of repetition so as to constantly offer something new” says Rayer-Smith.
“It’s Art Call” is a new art prize launched in 2016 by D Contemporary in collaboration with The Cult House, offering emerging artists a chance to exhibit at the Mayfair gallery.
Press release by Olivier Joly