Preston Paperboy: LONELY CROWDED PLACES
17th Nov – Dec 3rd 2022
Reem Gallery
4 Denman Place
Ham Yard Village
W1D 7AH
Contemporary artist Preston Paperboy will launch his latest exhibition ‘Lonely Crowded Places’ with leading contemporary art gallery Reem Gallery in Ham Yard, Soho from 16th November – 3rd December 2022.
Nathan Preston, who works under the pseudonym Preston Paperboy, studied art at school before studying for a degree in architecture at the University of Brighton. After a decade of working as an architect, and painting on the side, painting became his day job – in part thanks to social media, where many galleries and collectors found the work that he was making and posting in the evenings after designing houses during the day.
Paperboy’s unique style blends the pragmatic structure of photorealism with a heady mix of abstract expressionism. The carefully composed works utilise multiple mediums (charcoal, oil pastels, oil paints) to layer facial features, text, and motifs, and create a narrative that is influenced by street art, pop culture, and the artist’s own experiences with mental illness.
Referred to as his ‘second signature’, the ‘Smiler’ logo is featured on all works. The face’s upside-down smile and single tear are a nod to his past and ongoing experiences with depression, the $$ eyes are a reminder to not let wealth or fame cloud his vision as an artist, and the three lines over the head are a symbol of the light and peace he’s found on his artistic journey.
His artistic practice found its roots in using the act of painting as a time of meditation and grounding. His meticulously honed draughtsmanship nods to his technical training and desire to achieve a level of perfection within his work. This is contrasted with the loose and textured arrangement of symbols and text (often written backwards to make it more of a visual experience for the viewer).
Having exhibited in Hong Kong, Atlanta, and Miami, among other cities, he is returning to London to show his new collection titled ‘Lonely Crowded Places’ at Reem Gallery Soho, in Ham Yard Village.
©2022 Preston Paperboy, Reem Gallery
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