The title of Rod Kitson’s exhibition of almost 400 portraits of people from London and beyond refers to where his progression as an artist is four years on from when the project began in 2019, writes Michael Holland.
There are currently 384 artworks and another 16 will be completed on-site during the run of the exhibition.
Hung in chronological order as you enter his Surrey Quays Shopping Centre studio you can see a change in his style and palette as you walk along the paintings (Many eyes following you all around the room). From quite flat works the most recent portraits have lashings of colour and paint; almost 3D, ‘almost structural’, says Kitson.
Initially, the subjects were friends and family and other artists but Rod opened his studio door up to walk-ins from the local community, some of who returned for second and third and even fourth portraits, each one showing another side of the person and another aspect of the artist. Several of those strangers coming in off the street to sit for the artist have become friends. Rod Kitson, with his other people-led work here in the shopping centre, has created a community in the community.
Rod talks meaningfully about what he has gained from this project, not just as an artist but intellectually. The memories of some of the conversations had in the couple of hours spent – sometimes with complete strangers – have ‘brought deeper meaning to my life’.
On the opening night, sitters came along to find themselves on the wall, bringing friends and family to enjoy the exhibition, to take selfies with their image or to pose next to themselves – their two-dimensional twin. The artist greeted them warmly, remembering all their names and the discussions they had. It was more like a family gathering than the opening of an art exhibition.
The pictures can be bought for £250 for those created in 2019-2022, with later works selling at £300. Rod also accepts commissions for portraits of the same size (one square foot) and style.
The Art of Isolation, Upper Floor, Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, SE16 7LL until July 20th.
Free entry. Tues – Wed 11am – 6pm; Thurs – Fri 12pm – 7pm.; Sat 11am – 5pm; Sun – Mon Close
