Nicholas Dietrich Williams applies the knowledge and ideas of Modernism to his work in an attempt to challenge recent statements by some critics that 'painting is anti-Modernist’.

Markus Eisenmann, University of the West of England, says of Nicholas’work that while it is,“firmly located within the discourse of painting, the work explores new possibilities for painting mindful of a history of criticism and the medium’s modernist/idealist legacy”.

His works take reference from great painters like Breugel and Matisse,fused with modern popular music culture. The iconic rock star motif is repeated again and again,reflecting the ecstatic highs and devastating lows of life. They are stripped of their instruments, isolated and at odds with the backdrop they are painted against.

The figures are drawn free-hand,sourced from internet videos. They become deformed and twisted apparitions after being sketched from a moving image, where elements are kept or deleted at will, with the original disregarded.

Traditional rules are simultaneously maintained and broken: there is light, but no shadow; each area has been resolved and activated as a part geometric, part-ambiguous abstract
composition, informed by an intuitive approach.

Biography

Nicholas Dietrich Williams was born in Merseyside in 1981 and now lives and works in Bristol. He studied at Liverpool John Moores Univesity (2000) and Hull School of Art (2003). Selected group exhibitions include: The Manchester Contemporary,Spinningfields, Manchester; Nothing Gold Can Stay, Angelika Studio’s, High Wycombe(both 2011); The Constant Garden, Casa De Brujas, Liverpool Biennial; The Museum
Of Accumulation, Casa De Brujas, Liverpool (both 2010); Sale, The Royal Standard,Liverpool (2009). He was selected for the Celeste Art Prize, London in 2007 and is currently represented by Mermaid and Monster, Cardiff.

www.nickdietrichwilliams.com