This was my first show, held at Estudio Mahi Toi, Barcelona, from 16 June to 3 July 2022. I showed a number of oils from recent years (2020–2022), along with a series of mixed media works. All works available can be seen here and are available for purchase exclusively from Estudio Mahi Toi. Art prints available.
“Clinch (Organic)”, acrylic, coloured inks and gold leaf on paper, 30 x 40 cm, 2021 (in private collection)
“I Want What You Have Got”, oil on canvas, 60 x 30 cm, 2021
“Iván Reclining”, oil on canvas, 30 x 60cm, 2020 (in private collection)
“Ángel Sleeping”, oil on canvas, 30 x 60 cm, 2020 (in private collection)
“Fei and Abadí”, oil on canvas, 38 x 46 cm, 2021
“Clinch (Vermilion)”, oil on canvas, 60 x 60 cm, 2022
“Muay Thai II”, oil on canvas, 46 x 38 cm, 2021
“Sleeping”, mixed media on 50% cotton paper, 40 x 30 cm, 2018.
“Torso (Blue/Indigo)”, mixed media on paper, 30 x 40 cm, 2022
“Sunflower”, charcoal and inks on paper, 30 x 40 cm, 2022
“Torso (Towel)”, charcoal and inks on paper, 30 x 40 cm, 2022
“Torso (Red Ground)”, charcoal and ink on paper, 30 x 40 cm, 2022 (in private collection)
“Devotion”, charcoal and inks on paper, 30 x 40 cm, 2022
Artists Kevin Booth, Paul Lee-Maynard (creative director) and Adolfo Montalvo at the Blur Queer Lines opening on 16 June 2022
Some of the charcoal and ink works on show at Blur Queer Lines in June 2022
Two 2022 works in Charcoal and mixed inks, resulting from the life drawing sessions at Estudio Mahi Toi: "Torso (Blue/Indigo)" and "Torso (Magenta/Indigo)"
A range of works in inks and mixed media from 2018 to 2022, including the diptych "Lift (Magenta/Indigo)" to the left
Two of the paintings from the 2020 After Sex series, dramatically lit to great effect
Creative director Paul Lee-Maynard and I discuss the work
Charcoal and ink works from 2022 hung in the gallery space
Our opening on 16 June was packed and we received excellent feedback. While being my first, the show was a potpourri of work I have created over the last four years. It was a huge learning experience to see the work up there on the wall, brilliantly lit by Estudio Mahi Toi’s founder and creative director Paul Lee-Maynard, and to gauge people’s reaction to it.
As a result of this experience I have a clear idea of where I am going in my next body of work, which is already underway. I will be continuing to work with colour, which feels fundamental to me, while taking my figurative work deeper into the realm of abstract expressionism. I am keen to continue developing both oils and mixed media, responding to my constant need to be exploring two paths at once, allowing one venture to marinate as I develop the other, and then vice versa.
The show attracted the attention of both LGBT and the arts press. Here you can see our post by Contemporary Hum, a website that is dedicated to promoting the Aotearoa New Zealand diaspora of artists working worldwide.
And here is where we appeared in the Madrid LGBTI+ publication Shangay, in a post covering all the queer arts events in Pride month 2022 throughout Spain. We also appeared in the official Pride BCN programme.
Unfortunately, on the opening we were all too busy being fabulous to remember to take photos, so these images are from the end of the event, but they give you an idea.