Waterhouse & Dodd Contemporary is pleased to present a solo exhibition of works by Duncan McCormick (b. 1977), a contemporary painter living and working in Shropshire, UK.
In his most recent oeuvre, which we are delighted to show during the ART SG 2024 fair, Duncan McCormick extensively explores tensions between colour, form, and visual narration that captivates collectors worldwide. Born out of the painter's childhood memories of visits to the Mediterranean coast of Spain, as well as Devon and Cornwall in England, and his profound connection with nature, McCormick's work transcends boundaries of figurative painting, inviting viewers into a world where each brushstroke produces a unique visual experience.
Nature serves as the main muse in McCormick's oeuvre. He showcases his ability to capture the essence of the natural world by prominently featuring landscapes, seascapes, and botanical studies in his works. For that reason, we have decided to showcase four groupings of paintings for the exhibition at ART SG, each representing a separate season: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn.
Those four groups of works show that one of the most defining features of McCormick's art is his masterful use of colour. His palette is both vibrant and nuanced, with hues that seem to dance across the canvas, creating a visual symphony that evokes a range of emotions. Whether it's the warm, earthy tones of a landscape or the bold, contrasting colours of neon outlines, McCormick's choices demonstrate a deep sensitivity to the emotional impact of colour on viewers.
McCormick's command of form is equally impressive. His compositions often blend realism with abstraction, inviting viewers to appreciate the interplay between recognizable elements and more ethereal, dreamlike aspects. This duality of depth and flatness adds layers of complexity to his pieces, encouraging observers to explore the boundaries between reality and imagination. Each stroke seems to echo the rhythm of the elements, from the gentle sway of grass in the wind to the powerful crash of waves against rugged cliffs. McCormick's work becomes a visual meditation on the beauty and transience of the world around us.
In the autumn of 2014 I started working at Canary Wharf. Straight away I was inspired to keep sketchbooks recording, mainly in ink, my working day. Utilising those sketches, memory and imagination I built a portfolio of oil paintings about the area.
Working in that way enabled me to continue evolving the loose brushwork style which I have developed over the last twenty years. This brushwork, along with a saturated palette and somewhat awkward compositions leads to a style distinctly my own.
The work is currently on display at 25 Cabot Sq. Canary Wharf.
View The Four Seasons at ART SG Article