Dan
Baldwin was born in Manchester in 1972. He studied communication media at
Eastbourne College of Art and Design with commendation and an award for best
student. He received his BA with honours in communication media and
illustration from Kent Institute of Art and Design, Maidstone, where he was
awarded commendation and invited to be studio associate the following year. He
lived in Brighton for twelve years and currently resides in the West Sussex
countryside.
Baldwin
bridges the gap between abstract and figurative painting to create a landscape
that simultaneously reflects reality, the power of the imagination and the
private, inner workings of his mind. His style has a unique aesthetic which is
difficult to categorize. Working by instinct, it can change dramatically
depending on the subject matter he is exploring and the emotions he is
channelling.
Amidst the
edgy brushstrokes and sinister themes, symbolism proliferates in Baldwin’s
work. From children’s storybook illustrations and images of war to skate
graphics and vanitas, each viewer develops a highly personal response to what
they see.
The relationship
that has been observed between Baldwin and the still life painters of
seventeenth century Holland stems from his use of such symbols of life, death
and mortality as the flower, the skull, the bird and rotting fruit. He
re-contextualizes these symbols, however, making them relevant for modern
audiences.
Baldwin’s superlative
technique and conceptual brilliance position him at the forefront of the new
Young British Artist movement. His work is internationally celebrated,
championed and collected by an exclusive clientele. Baldwin has exhibited his
paintings, prints and ceramics around the world. He has enjoyed a stream of
critically lauded sell-out solo shows and presented his work in art fairs in
Basel, Miami, L.A, Tokyo, San Francisco, London and New York.