In the mesmerising hyperreal works of up-and-comer Simon Brown, realistic imagery eludes the viewer, caught amongst folds, creases, and crinkles masterfully conjured in paint. The illusion of Brown’s canvasses being scrunched like paper allows the artist to highlight elements of his subject matter that might otherwise be overlooked. Inspired by the works of masters like Rembrandt van Rijn and Michelangelo da Caravaggio, Brown honed his talents at Sydney Gallery School. His profound understanding of tone informs his skilful use of light and dark to create hyperreal visual effects, adapting the chiaroscuro method favoured by these artists to his imaginative practice. While working on a series of new paintings, Brown was recently named winner of the People’s Choice Award in the Brisbane Portrait Prize Salon des Refusés, and took out the Emerging Artist Award for the Mission to Seafarers Maritime Art Prize in Victoria.
Featured Image: Simon Brown, Jamie, 2022. Oil on linen, 92 x 122cm. Courtesy: the artist.