Jim McElvaney‘s work has a strong connection to No Walls gallery, Brighton; not only is the young artist exhibiting his latest collection White Teeth there, but some of the materials used to create the works were salvaged from the 19th Century building which the gallery occupies. McElvaney’s eyes are always searching out potential sources of material — both in terms of surfaces he can paint on, and found images to appropriate.
The artist’s collection of images are culled from photojournalism, film and various other pop culture sources to be re-imagined on a selection of unusual canvases — floorboards, books and cupboard doors are among the examples seen in White Teeth. McElvaney’s fluent but seemingly haphazard portraiture style blending drawing and painting succeeds in conveying great depth of emotion, his faces peering out from underneath the paint splatters and drips. Bold, thick paint is merged with crayon and line drawing, breaking with traditional representations of physiology and character. The exhibition runs from 27 February to 29 March.
Jim McElvaney,
It’s Just Something You Said, No.1
Jim McElvaney,
White Teeth
Jim McElvaney,
Criminal Justice
Jim McElvaney,
Autumn 1988
Jim McElvaney,
Flower Girl
Jim McElvaney,
Like Teeth Against a Window Pane
Jim McElvaney,
White Teeth, No.2
