ROBERT HEWER: FACES, FIGURES AND FORMS
An exciting new Feature Exhibition of new work by Robert Hewer
5th – 26th September
Acrylic on canvas, 80x60cm
The portrait and human figure have fascinated artists for centuries, offering an enduring way to explore identity, self-image, status and the human condition. In his striking contemporary paintings, Robert Hewer brings a distinctive and highly individual approach to this timeless subject, combining expressive painterly freedom with a remarkable ability to capture the presence and character of his sitters. Alongside his portraits and figure paintings, this exhibition also includes a selection of still-life works, revealing the breadth of his visual language.
Faces emerge from complex surfaces of facets, brushstrokes and vivid accents. Hewer deliberately draws attention to the physicality of paint, allowing individual marks, flicks and ripples to remain visible. The result is a rich interplay between representation and abstraction: although the subject remains recognisable, the viewer is continually reminded that this is a constructed, painted surface.
At times we recognise a familiar face, perhaps a contemporary celebrity, and that recognition becomes part of our engagement with the work. Yet beneath this immediate response lies a sophisticated understanding of composition, geometry, colour and spatial structure.
His subjects convey a wide range of moods and personalities: some bold and confrontational, others quiet, withdrawn or deliberately anonymous. In each, Hewer invites us to consider not only who we are looking at, but what it means to be seen.
Originally from Dorset, Robert studied at Bath School of Art and Design from 2010–2013. Since graduating, he has exhibited widely in London, Edinburgh, Bristol and across the South West, winning First Prize at the Bath Arts Fringe in 2014. He has exhibited with Artwave West since 2014.
EXHIBITION WORK
