Hang With Us presents: Declen Patten

About

Declen Patten, a Sheffield based construction site supervisor, announces a new exhibit of paintings at the Dorothy Pax from 7th April — 3rd May, which celebrates his surprising secret life as an internationally trained abstract artist.

Declen, who was born in Nottingham but now calls Sheffield home, draws inspiration from the myths and stories from the homeland of his Irish parents, as well as the Gaia theory of Dr James Lovelock wherein the earth survives through instability through repetition and constant evolution. These concepts are expressed through Declen’s art as large abstract pieces created from oil, gloss, and spray paints, wax, wood and canvas.

Declen studied painting at the Norwich School of Art, later studying in Spain at the San Carlos School of Art in Valencia. However, he has never formally exhibited his work in Sheffield until now. Declen states, “When a painting is started I use the initial marks to form my decisions, then proceed depending on what it is I am painting. It can take years to unlock a painting; I believe in the work and working the process of painting — I normally have ten to fifteen paintings that are either sat waiting to be unlocked, or are still unfinished and constantly on the move!”

The exhibition will be celebrated with an opening event at the Dorothy Pax on 7th April, 7pm—11pm, with a live DJ and opportunities to meet the artist and buy work. The exhibition runs from 7th April — 3rd May at the Dorothy Pax bar, Victoria Quays, as part of their monthly Hang With Us curated visual art exhibition.