Heralding the survival of neo-expressionism, Kristian Williams will be exhibiting his first REDSEA Gallery solo exhibition, “Electric Metropolis” this July. Mastering the vibe of high-end street art, Kristian welcomes us into the buzz of an electric metropolis.
With intense subjectivity, Kristian handles his materials with the same redemptive power of painting that the legends of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Norris Embry strove to capture. Referencing mythology, cultural and surrealist themes, Kristian Williams unique colour-coding is what defines his work. Kristian has always had a paintbrush in his hand, from the age of three, to recent years where he has transferred his talent onto advertising, fabric designs and of course, canvas. His 2015 sell-out exhibition, Bold and Unbridled, saw Kristian’s risk of leaving his high-fashion job pay off as his work set sail into private collections.
The raw, calculated incoherence found in Kristian’s recent collection still captures the angst and honesty of humanity. There is tongue-in-cheek humor found within vibrant, bold colours, yet emotive lines and clever collage effects leave the viewer asking if his work is a more considered comment on society and the human condition.
A born and bred Brisbane local, Kristian Williams is a recipient of the Minister’s Award for Excellence in Art (2003). Highend street art meets the rough handling of materials in his larger than life canvases. The faultless combinations of colour capture the gnarly characters which frame phases and quirky illustrations. Kristian’s colour use is what casts the magic, allowing the viewer to lose themselves within the pulsating shapes and spontaneous bursts of yellows or reds. The individuals Kristian has created contain all of their energy within. Perhaps a comment of society and modern culture, Kristian plays author to the internal psyche of his characters, allowing them to bare both chaos and reflection of the world around them.
Lee Steer, Managing Director, REDSEA Gallery, “There in an energy that radiates off Kristian William’s work that has captured the minds and hearts of the people of Brisbane and the Australian Art Market. With a New York art-house appeal, Kristian encapsulates the neo-expressionist vibe that he has developed so competently.”
Image: Dreary Days, 122cm x 91cm.JPG
