BAEL is a self-taught artist from the North East of England. After solo shows and group exhibitions in London showcasing his stark and haunting figurative paintings he has established a presence on the international art scene and developed a dedicated following. Bael’s influences range from German Expressionism to Art Nouveau and Japanese Anime, and he diffuses their essence to achieve a truly unique visual style: a post-ironic blend of Egon Schiele and Patrick Nagel that challenges the male gaze and gives voice to feminism without pandering.
“My work is an attempt to create a haunting, yet beautiful visualization of the human form. When I’m asked to describe my work, the only honest answer I can give is that my art is an attempt to capture human emotion and form with a sense of simplicity, to express something complex in as few words as possible. An obsession with drawing and line is the strongest element of my paintings and ink studies, the tension found in the figures comes from a fine balance of wanting to create a work that has visual and emotional impact, but does so by minimal means.”
“The rawness and immediacy of my work comes from my preference to paint with acrylic paint and charcoal on canvas or wood panel. These materials allow me to work quickly and retain the kind of line that exist in my drawings and transpose that into the paintings. The use of these basic materials started in my early twenties, when I was unable to afford primer of paint, oil stick and acrylics were compatible with this low grade support, so my aesthetic was born from necessity.” – Bael
Contact gallery director Matt Kennedy for purchase information, press materials, or to be placed on the preview list.
Gallery 30 South is located at 30 S. Wilson Ave. Pasadena, CA 91106. Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 12-6PM or by appointment. Tel: (323)547-3227 email: info@gallery30south.com
