OLIVER WILSON - Refracted Realism

Refracted Realism by Oliver Wilson At The Mark Jason Gallery In West London

Mark Jason Gallery, the London gallery committed to developing the careers of the best young graduates into successful artists, presents Refracted Realism by Oliver Wilson from 2nd to 24th February 2006 at the new Mark Jason Gallery space at 1 Bell Street, London, NW1.

Oliver Wilson's new Refracted Realism exhibition at The Mark Jason Gallery in West London, features 15 new works.



Oliver Wilson's paintings offer a conduit into a dreamlike world using models in and around pools to portray figure studies in a contemporary setting. Oliver Wilson uses photography to capture the images – the refractions of light in the water affording the flesh and fabric of the swimmers a richness of colour, and an emphasising of movement, that creates distortion bordering on abstraction whilst maintaining a subtle photographic realism. The titles of recent works reflect the setting of the scenes in the Greek Isles and also evoke the mythologies of the ancient sea gods and nymphs, though Wilson considers his work to be a respectful nod to the art of a later age: “I would want my work to be seen as a contemporary take on the depiction of angels and other celestial beings in Renaissance Paintings – floating figures illuminated by an indeterminate heavenly light source.”



Oliver Wilson was awarded the 2004 Gold Award for Best Artist at artLONDON 2004, and has been exhibited across London since his first exhibition in 2000.



Oliver Wilson – Background



Oliver Wilson was born in Coventry in 1974, and attended Stowe, before studying Fine Art at Newcastle University. After graduation, Wilson pursued a career in journalism, writing for Gramophone Magazine, and other publications within the Haymarket Publishing stable. After four years with the publishing house, Wilson decided to leave to pursue his artistic ambitions. Oliver Wilson divides his time between London and Saffron Walden, and lives with girlfriend Charlotte (whose friends and family are regular models within his work). Oliver Wilson describes himself as being “a strong swimmer.”



Mark Jason Gallery – A New Gallery Space in West London



Oliver Wilson's show at the Mark Jason Gallery will be the second show in the new space at 1 Bell Street, London NW1. The move from the former premises at Bond Street, which saw the launch of the careers of highly successful artists including Sumiko Seki and Ed Hodgkinson, was prompted by the burgeoning popularity of the gallery's artists, and a corresponding need to locate to a larger space in which to feature their growing body of work.



The new Mark Jason Gallery is 140m², and located within sight of the veteran YBA Lisson Gallery.



Mark Jason Gallery – History of Championing New Artistic Talent



Since its launch in 2001, the Mark Jason Gallery has been dedicated to the fostering, and development, of young art graduates into successful Contemporary British and International artists. Owned and curated by 35 year old Mark Jason – for ten years a key figure with the Contemporary Art division at Christies, and his wife Kate (previously Lady Clerk to The Master Of The Household at Buckingham Palace and likewise formerly of Christies), the Mark Jason Gallery works to promote fresh talent through monthly solo and group shows, as well as through having an established presence at major fairs such as Art London, The London Art Fair, AAF New York, and Battersea. The Mark Jason Gallery will be hosting its second New York group show in October 2005.



Oliver Wilson – Refracted Realism at Mark Jason Gallery – February 2nd to 24th 2006