Shaun Downey strives to breathe fresh life into realist painting by combining classical ideals within the context of his own life and surroundings.
His paintings have elements of decades past, but are firmly grounded in present day. Often painting his wife and friends within the confines of his home, we are allowed a voyeuristic glance into his world as he reveals his efforts to capture the fleeting beauty of modern life.
As outside viewers, we find ourselves longing to understand who Shaun Downey’s subjects are. What their lives are like, and which chain of events led them to the exact moment the artist has captured.
His meticulously rendered paintings call out to be understood, but we the viewer are left to make our own assumptions.
Downey’s work was shown in 2010 at the National Portrait Gallery in London, as part of the BP Portrait Award.
Images courtesy of Shaun Downey
Discover: www.shaundowney.com | bau-xi.com/collections/shaun-downey
