ARTIST STATEMENT
"During my years painting, it has become ever more apparent to me how much darker the world is becoming.
What was once a nostalgic hopeful world is since becoming increasingly mutated by falsehoods and vanity at almost every facet of society. I see around me a world in cultural decline, becoming ever stranger and detached.
A nightmare world. Indistinct from some cruel dream, unable to awaken.
My goal as an artist is to document nightmares and dreams, the modern landscape of anxiety and euphoria.
What was once a nostalgic hopeful world is since becoming increasingly mutated by falsehoods and vanity at almost every facet of society. I see around me a world in cultural decline, becoming ever stranger and detached.
A nightmare world. Indistinct from some cruel dream, unable to awaken.
My goal as an artist is to document nightmares and dreams, the modern landscape of anxiety and euphoria.
These are my observations. Perhaps they are accurate, or perhaps I am wrong, deceived by my own mind. Either way, my apparent disconnection from the world is clear to me, and painting is where I go to ground myself.
Images of smoke and desolation increasingly come to my mind nowadays. My paintings, through my growing apathy and detachment, have developed a distinct "haunted" aesthetic.
My Haunted Paintings are my response to the ever darkening world.
I have various painting projects, many of which are united by the haunted or abandoned aesthetic.
My main sources of artistic inspiration can be found in the great works of artists like Hieronymus Bosch, Zdzisław Beksiński and Francisco Goya.
Whilst my work explores themes of loneliness and isolation, I do gather a vague sense of tranquillity and peace whenever I paint.
Perhaps that is why I paint."
Images of smoke and desolation increasingly come to my mind nowadays. My paintings, through my growing apathy and detachment, have developed a distinct "haunted" aesthetic.
My Haunted Paintings are my response to the ever darkening world.
I have various painting projects, many of which are united by the haunted or abandoned aesthetic.
My main sources of artistic inspiration can be found in the great works of artists like Hieronymus Bosch, Zdzisław Beksiński and Francisco Goya.
Whilst my work explores themes of loneliness and isolation, I do gather a vague sense of tranquillity and peace whenever I paint.
Perhaps that is why I paint."
BIOGRAPHY
Michael Tucker was born in St Albans in 1989. Growing up in the UK, he went on to study Visual Arts at Coleg Harlech in 2010, where he acquired a Foundation diploma. From there, Tucker attended Aberystwyth University where he studied and practiced Fine Art, earning a Bachelor's degree in 2014 and a Master's degree in 2020. During this time, Tucker successfully exhibited his artwork in Harlech, Aberystwyth and London. In 2019, Tucker was featured on national television, where he participated in "Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019".
EDUCATION:
Aberystwyth University (MA) 2018 - 2020
Aberystwyth University (BA) 2011 - 2014
Coleg Harlech (Foundation) 2010 - 2011
EXHIBITIONS/AWARDS:
"Spring Back" Exhibition, The Nude Tin Can Gallery, St Albans - 2021
Aberystwyth School of Art September Exhibition (Online Exhibit) - 2020
The Nude Tin Can Gallery, St Albans (Online Exhibit) - 2020
Aberystwyth School of Art Postgraduate Degree Show (Online Exhibit) - 2020
Featured on "Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019".
The Wallace Collection, London - May 2018
Aberystwyth School of Art Undergraduate Degree Show - 2014
Aberystwyth School of Art Winter Exhibition - 2013
Aberystwyth School of Art Winter Exhibition - 2012
Coleg Harlech Summer Exhibition - 2011
EDUCATION:
Aberystwyth University (MA) 2018 - 2020
Aberystwyth University (BA) 2011 - 2014
Coleg Harlech (Foundation) 2010 - 2011
EXHIBITIONS/AWARDS:
"Spring Back" Exhibition, The Nude Tin Can Gallery, St Albans - 2021
Aberystwyth School of Art September Exhibition (Online Exhibit) - 2020
The Nude Tin Can Gallery, St Albans (Online Exhibit) - 2020
Aberystwyth School of Art Postgraduate Degree Show (Online Exhibit) - 2020
Featured on "Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019".
The Wallace Collection, London - May 2018
Aberystwyth School of Art Undergraduate Degree Show - 2014
Aberystwyth School of Art Winter Exhibition - 2013
Aberystwyth School of Art Winter Exhibition - 2012
Coleg Harlech Summer Exhibition - 2011