In this age of multiple ‘truths’ we are highly attuned to questioning first appearances. Surface and what lies beneath are central to Rupert Whale’s painting, a mix of the planned and the spontaneous. He enjoys the materiality of paint, and the role of chance in its unpredictable outcomes.
His abstract paintings often derive from figurative elements drawn from the everyday. He uses layering to emphasise the disconnect that appears between the flat picture plane and illusionary depth, accentuating ambiguity.
Rupert Whale graduated with an MA from Central Saint Martins after a teaching career in London schools. He won the Campari Creates prize in 2019 and Art Gemini Painting prize 2021. He has exhibited in the UK, China, Germany, and Italy. His work is held in the UAL, Campari and private collections.