"Urban Impressions," hosted by Yield Gallery, currently showcases urban and contemporary art, uniting some of the genre's most influential and inventive artists. The exhibition seeks to honour the visionary creations of iconic artists while celebrating the diversity and vitality of street art.
Featured Artists:
Fern: A British painter, exhibits a diverse style influenced by contemporary artists like Harland Miller and The Connor Brothers. Her work draws inspiration from mid-century posters. As a female artist, Fern frequently portrays a confident celebration of femininity and female sexuality while offering overt or subtle critiques of the predominantly maledominated world in which she navigates. Her rebellious art and liberated lifestyle position Fern as a prominent figure in today's feminist culture, resonating with a broad spectrum of contemporary collectors. Historically, Fern's artistic endeavours have been primarily commissioned by private clients, with numerous high-profile celebrities seeking her expertise to create personalised artworks. Notably, Fern's recent foray into the auction circuit has yielded remarkable results. In 2023, her painting titled "She Was Not Made To Be Subtle" initially carried a modest estimate of £2,000 at Forum Auctions. However, the artwork garnered substantial attention and interest, resulting in a bidding competition and ultimately selling for an impressive £16,900, inclusive of fees. The preceding year, in 2022, Fern's auction performance was equally striking. Her piece "Hearts are made to be broken” began with an estimated value of £2,000 during Tate Ward x Artsy's auction of Urban & Contemporary Art, which featured renowned artists like Francis Bacon, Damien Hirst, and Banksy. Surpassing all expectations, this artwork achieved a staggering final price of £10,720, fees included — a remarkable 400% increase from its initial estimate. Fern's exceptional results at auctions signify a new chapter in her burgeoning success within the art market.
Richard Hambleton: Richard Hambleton (1952-2017) was a visionary artist who left an indelible mark on the world of contemporary art through his groundbreaking contributions to street art. Born in Vancouver, Canada, Hambleton's journey as an artist began in the 1970s and continued to captivate audiences around the globe until his passing in 2017. In 1976, Hambleton burst onto the art scene with his "Mass Murder" series, a provocative and unsettling exploration of violence and crime. In this series, he anonymously created over 600 chalk outlines of bodies in 15 different cities, using the urban landscape as his canvas. This daring approach challenged the traditional boundaries of art and initiated a conversation about the role of art in public spaces. However, it was Hambleton's creation of the enigmatic "Shadowman" character during the early 1980s that solidified his status as a pioneer of street art. These life-sized, black-silhouetted figures appeared on the walls of New York City, haunting the urban landscape with their presence. The Shadowman became an iconic symbol of Hambleton's artistic vision, evoking a sense of mystery and intrigue that resonated with audiences worldwide.
Hambleton's influence extended far beyond North America, as he embarked on a tour of Europe during the early 1980s. He left his mark on the walls of cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, and Rome, introducing international audiences to the enigmatic allure of his Shadowmen. The exhibition then traveled to Milan, Moscow, Cannes, and Paris, before returning to New York in 2011. By now Hambleton's name was once more being held in the same high esteem it had garnered in the 1980s when he was more famous than his contemporaries Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring and had twice appeared on the cover of Life magazine. Despite achieving fame and recognition, Hambleton grappled with personal challenges, including addiction, which cast a shadow on his artistic journey. Nevertheless, his artistic legacy endured, and in 2011, his work was celebrated in exhibitions across major international cities, reaffirming his status as a seminal figure in the art world. Richard Hambleton's impact on the art world cannot be overstated. His innovative approach to street art challenged conventions, inspired countless artists, and reshaped the way we perceive public spaces. His work continues to be celebrated and studied, a testament to his enduring influence on contemporary art and culture.
Matthew Marquis: Matthew Marquis, a 42-year-old American contemporary artist, derives inspiration for his oil paintings on canvas from grotesque figures featuring bulging eyes, bulbous cheeks, proliferating limbs, and fractured faces, evoking the allure and abjection of a carnival. Marquis has been creating art for over two decades in his hometown of Telford, Pennsylvania. His talent draws from artists like Pablo Picasso and George Condo, blending abstraction into a wide range of work, from macabre portraiture to geometric, less representational compositions.
Banksy: Artist Banksy is an enigmatic figure who has become a legendary icon in the world of contemporary art. Banksy's true identity remains shrouded in mystery, adding an extra layer of intrigue to their work. Born in the early 1970s, Banksy hails from Bristol, England, and emerged as a prominent street artist in the late 1990s. Banksy's art is known for its striking and often thought-provoking imagery that combines social commentary, political satire, and biting humour. Through stencils and graffiti techniques, Banksy has left their mark on streets, walls, and public spaces around the world. One of their signature techniques involves using dark humour and juxtaposing unexpected elements to convey powerful messages. Banksy's work often addresses a wide range of contemporary issues, from political corruption and consumerism to war and inequality. Their pieces challenge the status quo and provoke viewers to question societal norms.
Many of Banksy's artworks have gone viral on the internet, making them a global sensation and sparking conversations on various pressing topics. Despite their immense fame and influence, Banksy remains fiercely protective of their anonymity. This secrecy adds an element of mystique to their persona, as they continue to create art that transcends boundaries and defies categorisation. Banksy's art has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, further cementing their status as a trailblazing and influential artist. Banksy's work serves as a testament to the power of art to inspire change,challenge conventions, and captivate audiences on a global scale. Whether on the streets or in the world's most prestigious art institutions, Banksy's art continues to provoke, engage, and leave an indelible mark on the world of contemporary art.
Mr. Controversial: Mr. Controversial, a 33-year-old artist based in London, has reimagined vintage imagery through a distinctive blend of oil painting, silkscreen printing, and witty captions. His art, now exclusively featured at the Yield Gallery, invites viewers into a world where humour, satire, and nostalgia collide. His creations aim to trigger powerful emotional responses, tapping into shared memories and experiences. Each piece becomes a relatable mirror reflecting everyday life, often with a hilariously absurd twist. Through meticulous craftsmanship, he elevates the mundane with oil paint and even diamond dust, ensuring both aesthetic beauty and relatability. When not in the studio, Mr. Controversial frequents a West London coffee shop, drawing inspiration from overheard conversations and online interactions. His art finds humour even in the darkest corners of modern existence, from gluten intolerance to the quirks of social media, online dating, and the pitfalls of consumerism. In his pursuit of authenticity, Mr. Controversial believes that great artists serve as both creators and commentators, capturing the essence of their time.
His journey began in West London, where he honed his artistic skills while studying Photography. Later, he ventured into film production and worked in the corporate world before fully embracing his creative aspirations. His influences range from Bruce Nauman's exploration of human desires through neon art to Edward Ruscha's typography expertise. He particularly resonates with Harland Miller's Letter Paintings, which blend text, shapes, and colour to convey humour and irony with minimalist finesse—a concept evident in his own work. With a growing online presence, Mr. Controversial captivates a devoted following on Instagram, where 12.4k loyal followers engage with his thought-provoking and humorous creations. The opening night of "Urban Impressions" was a resounding success, drawing an astounding crowd of over 150 members of the press and media. Located at 15 Bateman Street, Soho, London, W1D 3AQ, this captivating exhibition is now open to the public every day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You have until October 8th to visit and immerse yourself in the incredible artistry on display, so don't miss the chance to explore these remarkable artists and their creations firsthand.