Gabriel Hartley’s work combines optical effects and iconic markings on highly textured surfaces. His work summons early Modernism’s play with abstraction and perspective. With bold linear brush-strokes and organic, elemental shapes, his forms play with space and movement. The artists’ surface effects – generated through a mix of gloss and matte paint – convey both a flatness and a depth that produce a palpable sense of tension, and recall the paintings of School of Paris artist Jean Fautrier.

Hartley fuses seemingly opposing elements: the painterly and the photographic, flatness and depth, and two and three dimensions. He simultaneously constructs and excavates – building subjects and unraveling them – to create figures at once formative and timeworn.

Gabriel Hartley (London, UK, 1981) lives and works in Tokyo, Japan. He holds a BA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art and Design, London, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Fine Art from the Royal Academy Schools, London.

Selected exhibitions include: “Dialogue 1: Green Shadows (solo exhibition with Raku wares)”, Seishodo Yamashita, Kyoto, Japan (solo) (2021); “OF,” Seventeen, London, (solo)(2020); “Waterwood," Foxy Production, New York, NY (solo)(2019/2020); “The Sleeping Procession,” CASS Projects, Cass Sculpture Foundation, Goodwood, West Sussex, UK; “Landscapes,” Seventeen, London, UK (solo) (both 2018); “Reliefs,” Foxy Production, New York, NY (solo); “A Rose Without a ‘why’, It blooms because it blooms,” Carl Freedman Gallery, London, UK (both 2016); “Basic Instinct,” Seventeen, London, UK; “Lozenges,” Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London, UK (solo) (both 2015); “The Moving Museum,” London, UK (2013); “Slap,” Praz-Delavallade, Paris, France (solo) (2012); “Arte Furini Contemporanea,” Rome (solo) (2011); “Gabriel Hartley,” Swallow Street, London, UK (solo); “Jerwood Contemporary Painting Prize,” Jerwood Space, London, UK (both 2009); “John Moores Painting Prize,” Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, UK; and “Parade Space,” London, UK (both 2008).

Hartley’s works are in the permanent collections of the University of Chicago; Hood Museum of Art, Hanover and the San Antonio Museum of Art.

• CV

• Neuman, Barry N. "On the Abstract and the Material: ‘Gabriel Hartley: Waterwood’ At Foxy Production." Modern Culture / Barry N. Neuman /Facebook. 12 Jan. 2020. Web.
• Heinrich, Will. "Gabriel Hartley." The New York Times 23 Dec. 2016: C22.
• Purseglove, Laura. "Up the Ladders and Down the Snakes of Gabriel Hartley’s Exuberant Paintings and Sculptures.” Artsy. 16 Jun. 2015. Web.
• Russeth, Andrew. "Gabriel Hartley: Abstract Expressionism." W Magazine. Apr 2014.
• Busby, Kate et al. "Gabriel Hartley and Marianne Spur in Conversation." Open Art Surgery: The Moving Museum. 2013.
• Peri, Peter. "Future Greats." ArtReview. 66. Mar. 2013: 98.
• Lieb, Becca. "Interview with Gabriel Hartley and John Thomson: Cloud."ART on AIR. 14 Nov. 2011. Broadcast.
• Teasdale, Paul. "Gabriel Hartley and Appau Junior Boakye-Yiadom." Frieze. 143. Nov.-Dec. 2011. Web.
• Frederick, Jeff. "Gabriel Hartley." Art in America. 8 Dec. 2010: 144-146.
• Smith, Roberta. “Galleries Chelsea: Gabriel Hartley.” The New York Times. 24 Sep. 2010: C26.
• Smith, Roberta. "Abstract Abstract." The New York Times. 2 Oct. 2009: C30.