Tim Gatenby is not a Renaissance art revivalist using irony for irony’s sake; nor is he yet another pop artist repeating a recycled aesthetic to prophesize societal failures. Gatenby makes it clear that he’s not too concerned by being taken too seriously, by you or anyone else.
“When people see my art, I’d like their first reaction to be amusement,” the British artist shared. “I want people to smile and have fun when they look at the work. On the surface, it’s a break from the mundane, and a celebration of humor.”
At first glance, it would be far too easy to write Gatenby off as another pop artist who combines classical and modern ideas, a jaded formula that is as common as shepard’s pie in a dimly lit pub. But a deeper look at Gatenby’s process reveals a much more calculated and structured approach that blends a proper balance of local reverence, boyhood nostalgia, and a formal art background.
Indeed, it’s likely not coincidental that being born in Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon has influenced what he calls a “narrative based” approach. Gatenby, like Billy Shakes himself, wants to tell a story.
The story often starts, believe it or not, on an iPad, where Gatenby sketches out ideas before any brush hits the canvas. Gatenby likes to take memorable cartoon characters from his childhood and transform them into muted figures by stripping them of their innocence. One of his most iconic works, Stona Lisa, subverts Leonardo’s masterpiece by depicting the Simpson’s daughter with glazed, red eyes and … a joint.
Once the idea is in place, Gatenby leans on his formal art education where he studied classic techniques in Florence, Italy to deliver elegant oil paintings with a unique twist: his signature aesthetic of distinctly blurred compositions, a literal reflection of his imperfect vision and his stubbornness to refuse prescription eyewear as a child. He achieves this style by painting in one sitting, and while the oil is still wet, he will soften the image with large brushes.
There are litany of words that could describe Gatenby’s work but the one that appears most fitting is nuanced. The devil is in the details, as they say, and to truly understand Gatenby’s work, you must understand Gatenby himself. At his best, Gatenby is a postmodern pastiche artist that relies on whimsy and self-awareness to critique traditional values, resulting in beautifully meaningful pieces that reach far beyond his peers.
The Auction
This 1 of 1 original physical artwork will be available for auction and contains a specifically generated QR code that is tied to an NFT. The NFT serves as the digital representation of the art piece and provides a tamper- proof history of ownership.
Title: Feels Good Man
Medium: Oil on canvas
Edition: Original 1 of 1
Size: 80 x 80 cm
Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Time: 15:00 EST
exclusively on seen.haus
Connect with Timothy Gatenby
Website: https://timothygatenby.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealtimgatenby/
Website: seen.haus
Twitter: @seen_haus
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Discord: https://discord.gg/dad8J4f
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