Contemporary artist Tom Butler unveils The City Scene combining realism and expressionism of modern urban life

Contemporary artist Tom Butler will be visiting Clarendon Fine Art in Battersea Power Station tomorrow to unveil his first new collection of 2023, The City Scene which combines realism and expressionism in its portrayal of modern urban life.

Mr Butler’s collection fuses various materials and techniques to bring cityscapes from around the world to life in mixed media collages.

His methodology lends itself to a radiant tapestry of shapes, textures, colours and ideas which burst with light, colour and creativity.

The subtle but apt use of newspaper clippings, advertisements and slogans offer a quiet commentary about the society that exists in the cities and gives his artwork a real story-telling element.

He ventures beyond the first impression of a place and instead extracts the essence of life that exists there.

Mr Butler said: “There’s nothing more satisfying than cutting a magazine out of its original context and placing it within the urban composition to successfully suggest something else alongside the collage layers; I use acrylics, inks, and pen. The challenge is harmonising all these together so that the collage doesn’t take over.

“Constant evaluation and adjustment are required to keep everything balanced and make the artwork cohesive and aesthetically pleasing.~

“For me, the artwork must operate on two levels – to look like an accomplished and impressive painting from afar but then to surprise you when it draws you in for a closer look at the detail.”

Website: https://www.clarendonfineart.com/news/tom-butler-the-city-scene

Picture: Good to glow Picture: Tom Butler