Marcus Hodge is a British contemporary artist whose work is known for its vitality and sculptural use of paint. He seeks to evoke an instinctive response in the viewer by using minimal language. Central to his work is the juxtaposition of energy and stillness, where visceral layers of paint interact to reveal a glimpse of what lies beneath. With a restrained economy of means, the paintings are less about finish as about the process - a process of not knowing, one that may reveal something you weren't looking for. The picture finds itself in the mysterious and compelling process of being painted.
In the early stages of his career, Hodge initially made his name as a portrait painter. He returned to the UK in 1996 from a rigorous five year training in classical oil painting in Spain, very much in the vivid Spanish ‘Alla Prima’ style and within two years, he exhibited with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Marcus first travelled to India in 2000 and this was the start of an intense fascination with the country which became the driving inspiration behind his work. With each solo exhibition which followed, his style constantly evolved to become bolder and simpler as figurative painting gave way to abstraction. The paintings were accompanied by impressionist bronze sculptures, as his interest in this three dimensional aspect grew.
The Gateways exhibition in 2017 represented a pivotal moment Marcus' established career, as it fused his love of India with abstraction. The themes of gateways and windows were clear metaphors for this transformation which gave the materials far greater expression, unencumbered by representation. Different tools such as large spatulas, knives and lengths of wood were used to introduce the elements of risk, chance and opportunity. Each painting becomes unique in the artist's search for the unexpected.
Solo Exhibitions:
2001 Fine Art Commissions, Cork Street London
2002 FAC, Cork Street London
2004 FAC, Walton Street London
2011 FAC at the Tryon Gallery London
2014 Osborne Studio Gallery London
2015 The Jerram Gallery Sherborne
2017 Rountree Tryon Gallery London
2019 ArtMoorHouse London
2021 Osborne Studio Gallery London
2023 John Adams Fine Art Online/London
Selected Collective Exhibitions
1992-5 Austin Galleries Austin, USA
1996 Cadogan Contemporary London
1997-01 Royal Society of Portrait Painters Mall Galleries, London
2005 Osborne Studio Gallery London
2002-11 artLondon with FAC London
2012 Majlis Gallery Dubai
2014 Mark Murray New York
2016-18 Rountree Tryon Gallery London and Petworth
2017 Palm Beach Art Fair Rountree Tryon
2018-23 Crossgate Gallery Lexington, USA
2018-23 Hollandridge Henley and London
2020+21 Rountree Tryon Petworth