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Graceland London Five Things to Know Graceland London Five Things to Know

Graceland London

Five Things to Know
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Halcyon is proud to announce the international representation of female British artist Graceland London.

Drawing on her knowledge of art history and fascination with symbolism, Graceland London’s ultra-contemporary work depicts scenes of decadence and vice, with reference to the compositions of Old Master paintings.

Below, discover five things to know about the artist. If you are interested in adding to your collection speak to one of our art consultants now - email us at info@halcyongallery.com

Influenced by the Old Masters
Graceland London
How to Disappear and Never Be Found, 2023
Mixed media on canvas
120 x 150 cm

Influenced by the Old Masters

Graceland London is fascinated by the Old Masters; her vast knowledge of art history significantly shapes her creative oeuvre. In particular, she is drawn to the rich symbolism represented across Renaissance paintings, captivated by the fact that during this time, and throughout the Middle Ages, the primary function of art was to deliver complex religious narratives and messages to a predominantly illiterate audience. This historical significance and the study of symbolism play a pivotal role in shaping her artistic expression.

Her compositional approach, filling the picture plane with diverse elements, mirrors the techniques of revered Old Masters such as Jan van Eyck (1390–1441), Luca Signorelli (1441–1523), and Hieronymus Bosch (c.1450–1516), albeit with an Americana twist.

Symbolism
Graceland London
The Reckoning, 2023
Mixed media on canvas
120 x 150 cm

Symbolism

Symbolism is a cornerstone of Graceland London's artistry, manifesting in objects and characters laden with profound cultural significance. In many cases, the objects that she represents are derived from art history such as candles and a skull, both of which were frequently captured in religious art. Other objects invert traditional symbols in satirical ways, creating new layers of meaning.

The fried eggs we see take their starting point from the representation of eggs in Renaissance art - as symbols of new life and optimism. The ‘fried’ egg is symbolic of the artist’s view of contemporary life: ‘when you come to this life, you are already doomed...because of how many things are wrong with this world’.

Other symbols are distinctly contemporary, alluding to the current social and economic climate, human vices and consumerism. Her paintings are littered with logos – Gucci, Chanel, Dior, Donald Trump rubber ducks and references to QAnon (a far-right conspiracy theory and political movement)

Artistic medium
Graceland London
Starry Night, 2024
Mixed media on canvas
140 x 180 cm

Artistic medium

Graceland London’s paintings are created using acrylic paint which emphasises the flat surface of the canvas; the complex worlds that she creates are represented in a 2-dimensional universe. However, she employs oil paint for certain motifs, rendered with a sophisticated use of shading and patient attention to detail. These motifs appear in contrast to the rest of the scene, seemingly in relief from the canvas.

Graceland London has also developed her practice through the digital medium, creating NFTs. Stylistically and conceptually, these works are consistent with her canvases. Her approach to representation, which emphasises outline and blocks of colour, is effectively represented through digital painting on an iPad.

A dark sense of humour

Humour is a major outlet for Graceland London’s creativity. Motifs such as a woman smoking a cactus and a smiling teddy bear that happily waves to us with the words ‘F**k You’ written on its paw demonstrate this particularly potently.

The artist revels in the irony of capturing bleak dystopian worlds in playful candy colours and motifs. From a distance, our expectation is that her paintings are full of joy and optimism, but on closer examination, traversing her sinister landscapes and taking meaning from an eclectic range of symbols, her paintings are imbued with a sardonic tone.

If you are interested in adding to your collection speak to one of our art consultants today.

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