Reuben Colley - REMNANT

About

A major new collection by award-winning artist Reuben Colley will be unveiled at Reuben Colley Fine Art on 7th November.

Reuben Colley has been painting Birmingham for 20 years.  Born in Hodge Hill, he spent his childhood playing in scrubland between high rise tower blocks, and cycling in the shade of the Aston Expressway.  The Birmingham he loves consists of graffiti-covered concrete, overgrown pathways, dingy car parks – forgotten and unloved corners which most of us tend to ignore.

In ‘Remnant’, his new Birmingham collection, Reuben Colley has sought out places which have been abandoned to decay, or scheduled for destruction.  In his urban landscapes, Colley draws upon some of modern art’s most significant movements, including impressionism, photorealism and even pop art.  Looking at neglected spaces with the eye of an artist, he has created some of his most stunning compositions to date.

“Our surroundings are constantly evolving. Everywhere we look there is evidence of the passing of time.  Whilst painting this collection I became interested in what motivates us to do the things we do, to create and destroy. What motivates somebody to access highly inaccessible places in order to render a piece of graffiti? Why do we cut down a tree? Regardless of significance, there are remnants of the past everywhere, and there is a story to accompany all of them”.  Reuben Colley

Professional services firm KPMG is sponsoring the exhibition, and the firm’s Birmingham Office Senior Partner and Midlands Regional Chairman, Karl Edge, added: “Supporting local talent is essential to the growth and development of our city, and at KPMG, we’re proud to sponsor one of Birmingham’s most talented artists.

"Personally, I’m really looking forward to seeing Reuben’s latest collection, as I think there’s something special about bringing both the old and the new together and having a sense of pride for our ever-evolving city.”

About Reuben Colley

Reuben Colley was born in Birmingham in 1976.  He has always been drawn to the industrial landscape in which he grew up, and his urban landscapes are in demand across the world.  He has had numerous sell-out shows in London and Birmingham, and has won awards for both painting and drawing.  In 2015 he was commissioned to paint five original works for the new John Lewis store at Grand Central.  His work is represented in the collection of Birmingham Museums Trust.

 To request the preview catalogue contact Timothy Ison at

timothyison@reubencolleyfineart.co.uk

or call the gallery on

0121 236 0920.