Mat Humphrey

British painter Mat Humphrey paints portraits that fuse colourful kitsch realism with an unsettling intimacy.The paintings draw from a range of styles that, through the familiarity of their ‘low-brow' references, may lull the viewer into a false sense of comfort. However, there is a subtle undercurrent of disquiet that travels through these works. The subjects are perhaps uneasy within their bright and decorative surroundings. The works bring into question notions of the use of portrayal within contemporary society. Unlike historical portraiture, these works are not attempts to elevate the status of the sitter.