Ian Cumberland’s surreal, solitary scenes have evolved and progressed into even stranger territory, with his figures disappearing into reflective holes and taking part in bleak internalization. The Irish painter uses oils primarily, but in recent works, integrates materials like carpeting and mirrors. Cumberland was last featured on HiFructose.com here.
“The beautiful, youthful figures of Cumberland’s cast appear fixated on superficial attractiveness,” a recent statement reads. “They exude glamour but their perfection is belied by a mottled complexion and malaise. Some appear at a remove, reflected in mirrors, which have a long association in art history, not least as indicators of the illusory nature of painting itself, but also vanity, and in the mid twentieth century, psychoanalytic self-recognition. Even the surreal black holes that absorb the pictured inhabitants are mirrored, like the surface of smartphones or tablets. These scenes possess a hallucinatory stillness and are heightened by the artist’s vivid use of colour and attention to detail – in fabrics and carpets.”
Cumberland’s work has recently shown across Europe, from his native Ireland to Belfast and London. He’s a recent recipient of ACES Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Painter Peter Ferguson returns to Roq La Rue Gallery with "Skip Forward When Held," bringing his sensibility that blends notes of the Dutch Renaissance, Lovecraftian creatures, and more. The show, running through January 25 at the space, brings new oil paintings to the space. Ferguson was last featured on our site 
Christian Vincent’s paintings carry whimsy and melancholy, the artist playing with light and perspective in scenes from the everyday. Surrealism is typical in Vincent’s work, yet at varying degrees. The overall essence plays into the function of memory and how we fill in details with the perspectives of both then and now.