Xavier Baxter’s paintings are composed of interesting abstracted figures. The figures are larger than life, barely fitting in the confines of each canvas. Encased within the painted space, they command the focus of their own realms. The harmony of each composition gives the paint itself room to speak. Every stroke Baxter applies is intentional – bold and thoughtfully placed. This absence of hesitation brings an element of unpredictability, infusing the pieces with vitality and movement, and letting the artist’s inner spirit and emotion emerge.
Baxter was born in England to a family of artists. Both his parents were painters, and while his practice veered in a different direction, his early life experiences gave him unique insight and a wealth of artistic knowledge. Baxter implements the use of classical methods and media while also employing their modern counterparts. He is particularly interested in finding a way to move painting technique forward – he utilizes a plethora of brushes and tools along with an array of oil paint, all allowing him to experiment and accumulate the knowledge of what can be achieved.
The artist’s bold brushstrokes feel expressive and compelling, inviting the viewer to look more closely at the works. The swirls, layers, and colours form shapes that only reveal themselves once the viewer has registered the abstract form. Baxter’s pieces do not aim for ornamentation, but rather for a strong emotional charge which is conveyed distinctively. The methods the artist uses create a flowing energy, bringing forward a story. Both spontaneity and intention shift rhythm and expand the pieces to generating patterns which evolve rather than repeat. His figures seem to step forward from another realm caught in the moment between hidden and seen, between collapse and emergence.
Baxter’s dynamic compositions draw loosely on the language of the old masters; Rubens, Delacroix, Dürer, and Caravaggio, where light and darkness are active forces shaping the painted world. In his work, the figure seems to form directly from the surrounding darkness, illuminated just enough to pull its mass forward while still partly submerged in shadow. Light becomes a sculptor, carving the figure forward; darkness becomes the raw material from which the body is shaped into visibility.
As the viewer’s eye acclimates to the density of these surfaces, hidden figures begin to emerge appearing, dissolving, then reappearing as layers accumulate. Though born of powerful, often aggressive gestures, these monumental beings carry a gentle aura; their quiet presence belies the force required to conjure them into existence.
In these latest works, Baxter allows the figure to dominate more overtly than ever before. Forms seem pulled and moulded directly from the paint, stepping forward with energy concentrated in their massive hands. Geometric markings delineate their features, while smaller canvases offer totemic heads built from thick accumulations of paint and quick, assertive gestures. The results are freer, less bound by rules works alive with movement, anarchy, and the sensation of whirlwinds trapped on canvas.
The artist received a BA in sculpture from the City and Guilds of London Art School. He has exhibited in the UK, Germany and Korea. Most recently he has had a solo exhibition at Vigo Gallery (London), Jari Lager Gallery (Cologne and Seoul) group shows, a solo at Union Gallery (London), Armory with Vigo Gallery (NY), KIAF with Jari Lager Gallery (Korea). He has also been included in several art fairs throughout Europe.
