Dexter Dalwood’s practice presents an ongoing investigation into the role of images and painting in the construction of history. Reconstructing recent events of political and social relevance in juxtaposition with art historical, musical and literary sources, the artist explores the enduring relevance of painting as a means of communicating history and our interpretations of the subject. His cut-and-paste collage technique reminds us that if alternate realities can coexist within one image, then so too can they within both our everyday experiences and comprehension of past happenings. Dalwood constructs his paintings akin to how we construct memory, drawing together distinct concepts to provoke wider associations, encouraging his viewers to consider how actions, events and figurative images are understood. He invites us to reflect upon how we subjectively and collectively sample, frame, edit, crop and consume images in order to make sense of the world.

In a new series inspired by Mexico, Dalwood unites observations from his time spent in the country (whilst on a residency at Casa Wabi, Oaxaca, in late 2017) with his personal brand of ‘contemporary history painting’, which weaves together visual quotations to express a space or a place that is more an abstracted mental image than a representation of the real. 

This exhibition explores the influence of Michael Jackson on some of the leading names in contemporary art, spanning several generations of artists across all media. Curated by Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, the exhibition opens this summer to coincide with what would have been Michael Jackson's 60th birthday (29 August 2018).

 For more information, please click here.  

On the occasion of the exhibition New Pleasure, Simon Lee Gallery New York presents a panel discussion featuring artists Dexter Dalwood and Liz Lamere, moderated by critic and curator Bob Nickas. In this conversation, Dalwood and Lamere discuss the various entanglements of contemporary art and rock music as well as the influence of those connections on their own work and lives. 

Please note this event is free to the public, but booking is advised: events@simonleegallery.com / +1 (646) 678 5654

The exhibition, curated by Michael Bracewell and Andrew Hunt, is about and for the Irish writer and dramatist Oscar Wilde, who had been a visitor to Reading prior to his imprisonment at Reading Gaol. The Critic as Artist explores Oscar Wilde's theories of aesthetics and art criticism and includes the painting Isle of the Dead (2016) by Dexter Dalwood.

For more information, please click here.