Last night in Shoreditch saw Ant Carver’s latest solo exhibition ‘Not For Us To Say’ open showcasing 11 large canvas works, demonstrating Ant Carver’s distinct style and the range with which he can portray his subjects. Ant Carver’s style is very distinct, comprising the colourful background taking an abstract form, constructed from an elaborate process of being built up with spray paint and then deconstructed with smudges and even partly phased out with primer. It is on this platform that Ant sets to paint the detailed portraiture by brush, with acrylic on the street and oils in the studio, as is the case for the upcoming exhibition. This is what makes Ant’s works so interesting, they mark the point where Graffiti meets Fine Art, where realism meets the abstract, and embodies the journey as an artist Ant has taken, not forgetting his routes, but building upon them and striving to develop and hone the process.

We have long been fans of Ant’s output, his grey-scale realistic portraits sit so well on the fluid and colourful base he composes, creating that striking effect of the beauty to be seen among the chaos. What we love most is how with many of the pieces, the eyes on the subject appear to be looking directly at you as you stand before the work, creating that sense of connection between viewer and subject. This exhibition presents a superb body of works, portraying a broad range of subjects depicting different sexes, age groups and ethnic origins, set to display the universal beauty in people across all definitions. The overriding theme of the exhibition is to look at the positive in an image, with Ant feeling that quite often artists focus on the negative. For him, it is that initial reaction from the viewer that is the point of this body of works, that instantaneous spark that is formed upon seeing these works for the first time.

For his latest show Ant Carver has taken a trio of models and created between three and four studies of each model. We have had the privilege of catching all three of Ant Carver’s exhibitions over the last four years and we have got to say when we look back at our reviews of the previous exhibitins from this artist it is brilliant to see how much he has honed his style in this time.

The ‘Not For Us To Say’ exhibition is located at 12-18 Hoxton Street, Shoreditch and runs until Sunday 9th December. If you are in the area at any point or about London be sure to head along for a stunning collection of works.

‘Shannon, Study III’ – Oil & Spray Paint on Canvas.

‘Portia, Study IV’ – Oil & Spray Paint on Canvas.

‘Tashi, Study IV’ – Oil & Spray Paint on Canvas.

‘Shannon, Study I’ – Oil & Spray Paint on Canvas.

‘Portia, Study II’ – Oil & Spray Paint on Canvas.

‘Tashi, Study I’ – Oil & Spray Paint on Canvas.

‘Portia, Study III’ – Oil & Spray Paint on Canvas.

‘Tashi, Study II’ – Oil & Spray Paint on Canvas.

‘Shannon, Study II’ – Oil & Spray Paint on Canvas.

‘Tashi, Study III’ – Oil & Spray Paint on Canvas.

‘Portia, Study I’ – Oil & Spray Paint on Canvas.