Chuck Close and photorealistic painting
Posted 25 April 2007, by Aaron
I don’t claim to be a professional rollneck-sweater-wearing art critique, but I do enjoy spending a few hours trudging up and down galleries looking at various art works, especially contemporary art galleries.
One of my more memorable experiences from last weekend’s visit to Madrid was visiting the Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, a contemporary art gallery in Madrid’s ‘golden triangle’ of galleries.
One of the visiting exhibitions was of Chuck Close’s work. Close was a pioneer of the photorealistic technique, which is sometimes called sharp-focus realism - a technique which evolved from pop-art in America in the 1960s and 1970s.
I found Close’s works fantastic. They are large paintings copied from photographs in a way where colours, reflections and geometry are emphasised, creating an odd, hyperrealistic effect that truly captures the attention.
In the late 1980s Close suffered a spinal injury, but continued painting by holding a brush between his teeth. Close’s story is a remarkable one and his works are well worth having a look at if you get the opportunity.
Read more about Chuck Close:
- Chuck Close - Wikipedia
- Chuck Close: Process & Collaboration
- Chuck Close on artnet (examples of work)
- Navigating the Self (interview with Chuck Close)
Many thanks to the David and Taleen for the comments whilst I was away.
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26 April 2007, 9:50 am