» Felipe Chavez

Felipe Chavez

Artist

Felipe Chavez is a contemporary artist, born in Colombia and now based in London, England. Through his paintings created with Indian Ink on paper, he uses his own body to explore his male form and creates enigmatic layers of self-portraiture.

Self-Taught and by admiring work from Schiele, Bacon and New York based artist, Emil Alzamora, Felipe’s motivation comes from studying the ‘self’ and draws his inspiration from his own identity, as well as questioning his perception of space and sexuality. Without a formal art education, he has understood the importance of being a courageous artist unafraid to self-examine and build a sincere evolving body of work.
Felipe has been selling works on an international level and has developed relationships with collectors all over of the world, keeping them engaged by his consistent development of narrative and surreal use of medium.

Statement

I want to show how both making and being the subject of art affects me as a man and as an artist. It is a continuous journey of exploring my own body and the struggles that come with feeling different and trying to find where I belong – how by being completely open and revealing through my art, I can create a sense of power and control over who I am and who I choose to exhibit.

My painting comprises different techniques of applying Indian ink onto paper, focussing on forming juxtaposing balances of ink wash and bold dark lines that reveal realistically shaded bodies in enigmatic and surreal environments.

Recently I have explored what self-portraiture means to me, challenging the relationship between ‘the model’ and ‘the artist’ by creating narratives where the male figures in the paintings, though all physically resembling the artist, take on separate identities of their own. Some live their life enjoying the exhibitionism of being watched by a man, others feel conflicted with the joy of feeling overly exposed and vulnerable, the rest simply continue intimately exploring their bodies unaware of being the subject of anyone else’s gaze.

My process starts with taking photographs, alone – this period of self-study then influences the subsequent paintings. Because in that moment, nothing else matters other than the artist and his creative journey. A new person is only invited into the space when they become the viewer, the voyeur within the finished piece.

2021

‘Davy Pittoors Queer Boutique’ Retail Partnership, Margate UK

‘The Terrence Higgins Trust Auction’, Christie’s Auction House, London UK

2020

Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London UK

‘The Terrence Higgins Trust Auction’, Christie’s Auction House, London UK

‘Talented Art Fair’, Old Truman Brewery, London UK

2019

‘Winter Showcase’ Cube Gallery, Patras Greece

‘Henry Miller Fine Art Winter Showcase’ Coningsby Gallery, London UK

‘Its Art Call 2019 Shortlist Exhibition’ Old Truman Brewery, London UK

‘Roys Art Fair’, Old Truman Brewery, London UK

‘New Artist Fair’, Old Truman Brewery, London UK

‘The Hollow Man’ Solo Exhibition, The Lighterman Restaurant, London UK

Contemporary Landscapes, 508 Gallery, London UK

Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London UK-Winsor & Newton Product Prize Winner

2018

‘The NUDE’, Candid Art Trust, London U

‘Wildlife Artist of the Year’, Mall Galleries, London UK- Urban Category Winner

‘The London Coffee Festival’, Coffee Art Project, London UK

‘Pseudonym’, Inspire Gallery, Dublin

‘Insight’, Farmhouse Gallery, Chorley UK

‘Something Called Home’, King Street Studios, Lancaster UK

‘The Art of You’, Artizan Gallery, Devon UK

‘I As Another’, Carmel on the Green, London UK

Press

‘Artist in Isolation Interview’ The Rakish Gent, Magazine, Print 2021

‘Growing up Gay in Colombia’ Attitude Magazine 2020
https://attitude.co.uk/article/exclusive-artist-felipe-chavez-on-growing-up-gay-in-colombia/22972/

‘Interview to Felipe Chavez’ Gay Times, 2019