Luke Silva has masterfully reimagined the classic medium of watercolour, on both paper and canvas, using his own stylistic techniques and his personal artistic language.
Silva's journey has been marked by profound formative challenges and experiences, which are the foundation of his work. His art is a sanctuary from the turbulence of the real world, yet is not entirely detached from reality; tethered by tangible objects and recognisable landscapes, reminders of the world outside.
His artistic narrative is a complex interplay of devastation and allure. He often revisits the fearful theme of catastrophic fire with a sense of fascination, recognizing its potential for destruction, and the promise of renewal. Silva's Object Paintings series explores human vulnerability. He portrays ceramic objects that, while aesthetically pleasing and emotionally stirring, are essentially hollow and brittle, often devoid of practical use. These artworks serve as metaphors for the human state, and psychological struggles - outwardly attractive and engaging, yet internally fragile and, at times, meaningless; empty.
Luke Silva (b. 1999, London, UK) divides his time between London and Margate. He completed his BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Central St Martin’s School of Art, in 2021.