Originally from Hertfordshire, Duncan McAfee currently works and lives in south London. The British painter earned his degree from Chelsea College of Art and Design and further his education at the esteemed Turps Banana Art School. During his college years McAfee experimented with alternative artistic pursuits such as creative writing and sound production whilst always keeping his footing within the artworld.
Developing experiments with collage, Duncan McAfee honed his artistic skills and discovered a love for mixed media expression that continues to carry through his creative journey today. During the pandemic and through an exploration of collage, that his Exploding Head series emerged.
Described as Francis Bacon meets Disney’, the series of artworks merged deep themes of human condition and humanistic anguish, whilst combining the light heartedness and comedic value of animation. The original paintings depicted distorted and anguished human figures conveying a sense of existential torment and psychological depth.
Since childhood, Duncan McAfee's unwavering passion for the arts has transcended the ordinary, blossoming from the meticulous hand drawn Zoids he created at the age of eight. Throughout his artistic evolution, McAfee immersed himself in the refinement of observational drawing, later delving into the world of figurative painting inspired by luminaries such as Francis Bacon, Euan Uglow, Lucian Freud, and Eric Fischl.
Duncan’s technique involves bold brushwork, an affinity for abstraction and dramatic contrasts of colour. The artist’s use of colour is a vital part of understanding his work with vibrant bold hues contributing to the visceral deep impact of his paintings. McAfee often manipulates forms and perspective to create a sense of disorientation and distortion, inviting viewers to question and confront the complexities of human experience.
Similarly to Bacon's style, McAfee’s series of Exploding Heads depicts the true anxiety of modern life, delving into themes of isolation, violence, and the fragility of existence. The paintings are chaotic in composition with little negative space. The figures are frequently depicted in violent, claustrophobic spaces, adding to the sense of emotional intensity and confinement. It’s celebratory and gritty, real and honest, and just a little bit outrageous.
McAfee’s experimental approach pushes the boundaries of both figuration and abstraction, making a resounding statement in the realm of high-end artistic expression.
Though chaotic compositions with little negative space, encapsulating the essence of luxury and modernity McAfee depicts the trye anxiety of modern life, delving into themes of isolation and the fragility of existence.
Developed during the pandemic, the Exploding Heads collection merges deep themes of the human condition and humanistic anguish with light heartedness and comedic value. Through bold brushwork, dramatic colour contrast and an affinity for abstraction, the British painter often manipulated form to create a sense of distortion and disorientation, inviting viewers and collectors to confront the complexities of human experience.
McAfee’s experimental approach pushes the boundaries of both figuration and abstraction, making a resounding statement in the realm of high-end artistic expression.
The Exploding Heads series encapsulates the essence of luxury and modernity, fusing elements of collage with McAfee's unique perspective on contemporary life.
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