48″ x 48″ oil on canvas $5,500
James Durkin (b. 1983) is an Anglo-American painter based in Charleston, SC. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, and raised in the United Kingdom, Durkin studied Art History at the University of Nottingham before refining his skills in drawing at the Royal Drawing School in London. His artistic journey has been deeply influenced by his extensive experience in both the art market and the realm of creative expression. After more than a decade as an auctioneer at Sotheby’s in London and New York, Durkin has returned to his roots as a painter, unveiling his first significant body of work in a decade.
Before stepping into the auction house world, Durkin was an active presence in the London art scene, working alongside contemporary artists and exhibiting his work in a range of exhibitions, including the iconic Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.
Throughout his career, his paintings have drawn on his experiences with both the natural world and the contemporary art dialogue, combining influences from his travels, the landscapes of his youth, and his understanding of art history.
His recent return to painting marks a new chapter in his career, with a fresh series of abstract landscapes that reflect both his personal evolution and his deeper connection to the world around him.
These new works, characterized by bold brushstrokes, layered textures, and a nuanced palette, explore the emotional and psychological resonance of the landscape, focusing less on representational imagery and more on evoking a sense of space, time, and movement. His approach to abstraction is grounded in an intimate relationship with the environment, capturing its raw beauty while exploring the tensions between natural forms and the spaces they occupy.
This new body of work invites viewers to experience a landscape not as a fixed object, but as a dynamic and ever-shifting force, as seen through the artist’s unique lens. With a renewed sense of purpose, he embraces the challenge of creating art that resonates on a deeply emotional level, offering fresh insights into both the external world and the inner landscapes we navigate.
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