Drawing together influences from mythology, art history and philosophy, the paintings of Dean Melbourne are sensuous investigations into the complex relationships between the body and the landscape. Forests and foliage are recurring motifs within the work and are always richly painted, whether brightly lit and saturated with colour or shrouded in darkness. Hovering between the figurative and the abstract, his skilful brushwork brings to life a series of theatrical, dream-like views of unknown forests. Within these claustrophobic forests, the viewer can find strange, fragmented and twisted people engaged in ritual activities.
Melbourne’s paintings are invitations into secret, forgotten and imagined places, places where nature runs wild and people live at the very edges of life. His work harks back to more ancient times imbued with magic, mystery and urgency, re-enchanting our view of the natural world in relation to our own bodies.
Melbourne holds a BA (Hons) in Painting and works from his studio in Stourbridge, West Midlands, where he is based. Showing his work widely, Melbourne has been selected to exhibit at the prestigious annual Royal Academy Summer Exhibition on three occasions, as well as at exhibitions in Birmingham, Bristol, and at other galleries and art fairs in London.
To find about more about Dean’s process and inspiration you can read our interview with him here.
