Artwork of the Week - 28th April 2015

Peter Howson - Madai.

Before the show even opened every painting in Peter Howson's latest exhibition 'Demokratia' has been snapped up. The paintings, priced between £3,00 and £250,000 were all purchased by one buyer. The new show runs until 16th May at Flowers Gallery, London. The collection of paintings are a reflection on political and social issues of our time.  Peter was delighted by the sale and is working on more paintings in the same theme to keep up with demand.

Peter Howson was born in London in 1958, he moved to Ayrshire, Scotland when he was a child. He enrolled in the Glasgow School of Art in 1975. In 1983, after graduating from University, Peter debuted his first public commission in London. From then on he has built his reputation as one of his generation's most formidable figurative artists.

Peter Howson has exhibited his work internationally, his art is being bought by the world's most leading galleries. His work is represented in public collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Tate Gallery, London; the Victoria & Albert Museum, London; the British Museum, London; Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow; and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh. He is collected by a number of famous names including David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Madonna. His portrayals of Glasgow's down-and outs gained him a vast amount of public and media attention. Throughout his career Peter has been honoured for his services to the visual arts; first, with a Doctors of Letters Honoras Causa from the University of Strathclyde, and most recently, with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) which was awarded to the artist by the Queen in her birthday honours of 2009.

In 1993 Peter Howson was appointed the Official British War Artist for Bosnia. This inevitably bleak work provoking controversy when it was subsequently exhibited. His Balkan experiences brought to a head a series of problems that had been developing in his personal life and both his physical and mental health suffered. Since then Peter has worked hard to overcome his personal difficulties and is feeling positive and excited about the future. He has practised painting for his salvation and serenity, each artwork has a part of him in.

He specialises in dramatic figurative work that uses line and colour in an expressive and powerful manner. Madai is one of the prints we have available by Peter Howson, to view the full collection please visit Union Art now.