Reuben Colley
British representational painter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Reuben Colley (born 1976) is a British representational painter primarily recognised for his "gritty" city-scapes[1] and parkland scenes depicting his home town of Birmingham, England.[2][3] His work is included in the collection of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery[4] and private collections both nationally and internationally.
Reuben Colley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976 (age 49–50) |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Website | www |
Life
Colley studied at Handsworth Grammar School for Boys then Bournville Art College, Birmingham, and in 1995, he enrolled at The University of Wolverhampton, where he gained a BA Honours in Fine Art, specialising in painting.[5]
Through his work he has supported charitable causes including Freedom from Torture[6] and Birmingham Children's Hospital.[7]
After founding a commercial gallery (Reuben Colley Fine Arts) in the Moseley district of Birmingham in 2010, the gallery relocated to Birmingham's city centre on Colmore Row in 2015.[8]
Colley has said: "I don't paint a particular subject, I try to depict an atmosphere".[9] He's explained his process, saying:
I am constantly exploring new areas of my own painting to see what creates an atmosphere or a mood for the viewer, to take them past the boundaries of being purely representational, and they become a record of my own experiences and impressions of places. [...] Painting, to me, should be a very natural process, without the restraints of gimmick and style, it is an infinite language of expression, only I find it much more comforting than using words.[10]
Awards
Exhibitions
- 2001 Impressions of Birmingham, Halcyon Gallery, Birmingham[13]
- 2002 Streetlife. ICC, Birmingham
- 2002 Impressions of London, Harrods, London[14]
- 2003 Forward. ICC, Birmingham
- 2005 California. Bruton Street, London
- 2005 Venice. ICC, Birmingham
- 2007 Urban Landscapes. New Bond Street, London
- 2007 Birmingham Open. Gas Hall, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery[12]
- 2008 Reuben Colley Exhibition. ICC, Birmingham
- 2008 The Art Of Birmingham 1940 to the Millennium. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
- 2009 Birmingham Seen. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery[15]
- 2010 City of Culture Exhibition in conjunction with Birmingham City Council. RCFA,[16] Birmingham
- 2011 Reuben Colley Exhibition. Hay Hill Gallery. Cork Street, Mayfair[17]
- 2012 My Birmingham. RCFA, Birmingham
- 2013 City Living. RCFA, Birmingham[18]
- 2015 Change In the Inner City, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery[19][20]
- 2016 City Living Collection II. RCFA, Birmingham[21]
- 2017 Remnant (Preview). Bridge Gallery, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery[22]
- 2017 Remnant. RCFA, Birmingham[23][24]
- 2018 Group Exhibition. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery[25]
- 2022 Skatepark, RCFA, Birmingham
- 2023 Birmingham Life, RCFA, Birmingham
Acquisitions
- 2002 Council House. Acquired by Birmingham City Council
- 2003 Brindley Light. Acquired by Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery[4]
- 2006 Vitol Oil - London. Acquired by Vitol Group
- 2011 9:45 Church Street. Acquired by Brown Shipley Private Bank. Birmingham[26]
- 2011 Selfridges at Night, Birmingham. Acquired by Selfridges, Birmingham
- 2015 John Lewis Birmingham Portfolio. (A collection of five paintings). Acquired by The John Lewis Partnership, John Lewis, Grand Central, Birmingham
- 2018 Birmingham Law Courts. Acquired by The Birmingham Law Society.[27]