Michael Pemberton (b.1974) UK.
In 2006, Pemberton presented The Toxic Series his first solo exhibition in Mayfair, London at The Music Room Gallery. Large abstract works on Plexiglas panels painted with cut brushmarks and fields of colored tape locked in resin were concerned with toxicity and the ironic beauty of pollution. Several years of commissions from the London studio took him deeper into this way of working. In 2010, a relocation to New York shifted explorations into a new abstract language. This resulted in a body of work on canvas and paper, Inner Lands. Concerned with how abstract feelings and ideas translate from inner sensations to outer experiences. In 2015, Pemberton began an investigation into the thirst for journey in our lives and the impermanence of the destinations. This resulted in a series of large-scale paintings, Uninhabitable Land. These works were first shown in a solo exhibition in Los Angeles at Husar Fine Arts in 2015. Following in 2016 a series of large-scale abstract paintings and paper works, Forms of Ambiguity, explored the space between certainties and our fear of ambiguity and the indefinable. These works were shown at three LA galleries all operated by Husar Fine Art in 2016 & 2017. In 2018 an exhibition was shown at Chali Rosso Gallery in Vancouver of a series of abstract paintings, Inexactitudes. Additionally in 2018 a retrospective of abstract works from the previous four years was shown at Mouche Gallery in Beverly Hills.
After fifteen years of working abstractly Pemberton made a shift into figurative painting in 2018. Deep threads of abstract thinking and exploration were retained but a growing need to work with human feeling was answered. Inner Human (2019-2021) is a series of paintings of non-realist, imaginary human form that call into question what is real and imaginary in our lives and asks if they, in fact, are interchangeable.
In December 2020 Michael Pemberton exhibited works from both his series of ‘Forms of Ambiguity’ and ‘Inner Human’ in an exhibition titled The Most Beautiful Night of our Lives, with PAG Art in Mexico City.
In September 2021 Pemberton exhibited key works from Inner Human series in a group show with Galerie 208 in Paris. These early ‘Inner Human’ iworks informs the foundation of Pemberton’s ongoing philosophy, that life is indeed within, despite our outer identities and beliefs in physical reality. In this series the flat backgrounds locate figures in a void thus avoiding any constraints or distractions of a setting in the ‘real world’.
In January 2022 Pemberton exhibited select works from Human Frequency series at JC Gallery Mayfair in London in a group show titled Striking Bold. The emotional intercourse between his own creative desire and what the work demanded of him is apparent in the Human Frequency works. Here, the often distorted figures seem unconscious of their own frequencies, represented by bold bands or striking lines of contrasting colour,
In February 2022 Pemberton exhibited an entire series of works as a solo show at Galerie 208 Paris named Human Reformation. Pemberton felt the need to focus closely on one distinct area of human inner life. He investigated change, in particular the space we occupy after we let go of parts of our pre-formed self, thoughts, feelings or ideas. Firstly there is an intermission, even anonymity before we begin to construct a new identity. In these large scale works the deconstructed figures, in various stages of re-formation, seem to challenge the boundaries of their own physicality both energetically and emotionally.
In May 2022 JC Gallery Mayfair presented a solo exhibition of Pemberton’s works on canvas and paper, named Human Atmosphere. This exhibition saw the painter expand not only in philosophical investigation but also in colour, abstract language and motif. The series of paintings and drawings suggests we each have our own personal ether where we truly exist, unseen by the naked eye but as real and critical to self as anything physical or tangible. In these works we see the artist continuing but enlarging the ‘life within’ theme. He proposes our human atmosphere not only creates us but we in-turn are its creators,.
Michael Pemberton was educated at Chelsea School of Fine Art in London and later studied at Slade School of Fine Art, and The Ruskin School of Art.
In November 2020 Michael Pemberton was delighted to announce representation with PAG Art, Mexico City.
In September 2021 Michael Pemberton was delighted to announce representation with Galerie 208, Paris.
In December 2021 Michael Pemberton was delighted to announce representation with JC Gallery Mayfair, London.
RECENT EXHIBTIONS
8 Sept – 8 October
Roots of Day
JC Gallery Mayfair
14a Hay Hill
London W1
@jcgallery.mayfair
20 May - 20 June 2022
SOLO EXHIBITION
Human Atmosphere
JC Gallery Mayfair
14a Hay Hill
London W1
@jcgallery.mayfair
10 Feb - 12 Apr 2022
SOLO EXHIBITION
Human Reformation
Galerie 208 Paris
198 Ave Victor Hugo
Paris 16- France
@galerie208
3 January - 30 March 2022
Striking Bold
JC Gallery Mayfair
14a Hay Hill
London W1
@jcgallery.mayfair
14 Sept - 30 Oct 2021
Art Moderne & Contemporain
Galerie 208 Paris
22 Ave Pierre 1er de Serbie
Paris 16 - France
@galerie208
24 June 2021
'Esto es Ahora'
Contemporary Art Sale
Morton Auctions - Mexico City
Dec 2020 - Feb 2021
'The Most Beautiful Night of our Lives'
PAG Art - Mexico City
@pagartadvisory