Beyond the Canvas: A Deep Dive into the World of Louis Appleby, the Artist Shaping Contemporary Narratives
In the kaleidoscopic world of contemporary art, Louis Appleby stands out for his vivid use of color and emotive expression. This interview peels back the layers of his creative process, exploring the inspirations and aspirations of a truly visionary artist. Join us for a brief but deep dive into the mind and art of Louis Appleby, a name that encapsulates the vibrancy of modern creativity.
What are the challenges and rewards of showcasing your work in Paris, a city with such a rich artistic heritage ?
You have such incredible Galleries & museums in Paris. So it’s quite a privilege to have a show here. It’s my first time showing work to a French audience who I hope enjoyed seeing my paintings. The challenges were physically getting the work from England l, which was intense because I was scared something may go wrong with customs & the work wouldn’t make it to the gallery in time. But everything was fine in the end. We used a great shipping company to get the work here & the gallery was extremely helpful with assisting everything.
I had quite a cool moment the morning after the show where myself and my younger brother were walking through the streets of Paris. A lot of places were closed as it was Sunday morning so we were aimlessly wondering around drinking coffee. we then realised that we were on the same street as the Gallery (my phone didn’t work all weekend so I had no Google maps). Walking past the Gallery and seeing my work that been in my studio in Lancaster North England for the last six months hung on the walls of the gallery in the middle of Paris was quite surreal.
How do you see your work interacting with or contributing to contemporary art conversations ?
It’s quite a difficult question because I don’t really know how my work operates to other people. maybe I’d like my work to be viewed through the same lens as still life paintings or landscape paintings. The art world is so vast and so varied & ever changing & evolving. but if I could just inspire a few people to paint that would be nice.
Looking ahead, are there any new directions or projects you are currently exploring ?
I’m currently working towards an exhibition in Hong Kong at shop house gallery. Its a two person show with friend & incredible artist Victor seaward. He makes really interesting 3-D printed objects & arrangements. They’re hard to describe so I would recommend taking a look. He was in the year above me studying Painting at the Royal College of art. I’m making 6 new paintings for this show & I’ll be visiting Hong Kong for the first time. I’m excited by the work I’m making at the moment, so things are looking good.
Finally, what advice would you give to emerging artists who aspire to exhibit their work internationally ?
I can only speak from my experience which was go to art school & do an MA or equivalent, if you can. You can learn a lot there. If you can’t it’s not necessarily the end of the world. The degree show is a good opportunity for you to show work to a large audience & possibly galleries. Instagram is a good way to get your work out & discover other artists & galleries. Have a website & take professional pictures of your work & make PDF catalogs so you can send your work to those who are interested.