About Chris Haywood
Chris Haywood’s work focuses on Birmingham city centre, particularly looking at the buildings from the 1960s and 70s that people think are unattractive and functional, in preference to the decorative or iconic buildings. However, because there are few recognisable buildings in his work, the exact location of each painting is not important; they are about cities and generic urban architecture. He aims to make the ordinary and mundane look interesting and attractive through the use of abstracted colour, expressive brush marks and dynamic compositions. The shapes of the roads, street signs and the architecture of office blocks are features that reoccur in his work. Abstract elements are becoming increasingly significant and he often include marks, letters and symbols taken from the streets and these abstractions and the use of materials are just as important as the subject matter. No people feature in his work, and there are few cars as he is not freezing a split second in time, the absence of people also makes the work more tranquil and contemplative. The titles are either taken from elements found within the paintings or words and phrases he finds in the city.
Education
University of Central England, Fine Art (Painting). 1996
Events
Worcestershire Open Studios 2017.
Worcestershire Open Studios 2019.
Derwent Art Prize 2020 finalist.
Exhibitions
Purple Gallery, Birmingham.
Pop up Gallery, Worcester, 2018.
RBSA, Prize Exhibition, 2019.
RBSA, Prize Exhibition, 2020.
