About
Daniel Freaker lives and works in Portsmouth, U.K. While studying at University he explored the painterly qualities of print, video, film and photography. He now concentrates on painting, where it is possible to see the influences of previous interests on the paintings in terms of cinematic composition and subjects. With the work often reminiscent of film scenes and fragments of a broader narrative, which the viewer can interpret.
His work is informed by contemporaries such as Doig, Tuymans and Armitage, sitting between the abstract and figurative spaces where the way paint media is applied is equally as important as the image itself. The subjects are mostly individuals, couples or groups of people in order to provoke thoughts of relationships or isolation. The scenes reminds the audience of something they can empathise with and the techniques and colour palette bring feelings of sentiment and longing with a contemporary twist of warmth and radiance. While many elements are true to reality and show traditional processes, some distortions, exaggerate the emotional significance of the moment: connection, loss, vulnerability, or loneliness… This juxtaposition between vibrance and darkness is what makes it memorable.
The work combines elements of abstract and expressive mark making with figurative details. Some details are defined and clear where others are more suggestive and evocative. The techniques emphasise the qualities of contemporary media, acrylic and ink through washes, drips, drops, gestural and expressive mark making. These provide a rich tapestry of interwoven processes and a richness to the work. There are also more unusual processes such as lifting and removal of paint that expose sensual textures, and generate a sense of nostalgia about moments that are both beautiful and painful.
The experimental nature of Freaker’s work has been informed by thirteen years of collaboration, experimentation and creative risk taking as a lecturer and tutor in art and design. He has lectured in many subjects during his education career including painting, fine art, print, moving image and graphic design, both in the U.K. and internationally. He continues to contribute to the art and design curriculum internationally through by contributing to forward looking creative qualifications.
Representation
Noon Powell Fine Art, London, UK
Saul Hay Gallery, Manchester, UK
Indigo House Gallery, Massachusetts, USA
Allgorithim Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
Education
2007 Postgraduate Certificate in Education, Portsmouth University.
2000 MA Fine Art / History and Theory of Art, Slade School of Fine Art, UCL
1998 BA Joint Honours Visual Arts: Graphic Design /Electronic and Lens Based Media, Camberwell College of Art, UAL
1995 Foundation in Fine Art, Central Saint Martins School of Art, UAL.
Exhibitions & Publications
2023 Into Tomorrow, solo show, Unpolished Design, Uzes France
2023 The One With All The Squares III, group show, El Paso Frame Co., Texas
2023 Solace Formed, Allgorithim Gallery, online exhibition Artnet
2023 Manchester Contemporary, with Air Gallery, UK
2023 Perfected Imperfections, group show, Kaicen Fragrance House, London
2023 Affordable Art Fair, with Noon Powell Fine Art, UK
2023 Red, group show, Foxyard Studio Gallery, Stowmarket, UK
2023 Air Open 23, group show, Air Gallery, Altrincham, Cheshire
2023 RBSA Prize 23, group show, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, UK
2023 UK Covid-19 Inquiry Commemorative Tapestry, collaborative work, London
2023 Sunny Art Prize, group show, Sunny Art Centre, London
2022 Bath Open, group show, 44AD Artspace, Bath
2022 Return on Art, group show, Künstlerhaus, Vienna
2022 RBSA Prize Exhibition, group show, RBSA Gallery, Birmingham
2022 Cluster, group show, OXO Wharf, London
2022 Promised Moments, solo exhibition, One Paved Court gallery, London
2022 Between Us, solo exhibition, Noon Powell Fine Art Gallery, London
2022 Scenes We’ve all Seen, solo exhibition, Oxmarket Contemporary, Chichester UK
2022 The Other Art Fair, London
2022 Codes of the Unconscious, group exhibition, The Holy Art Gallery, London
2021 Wonderment, group exhibition, Noon Powell Fine Art Gallery, London
2021 Objet d’Art, group exhibition, The Holy Art Gallery, London
2021 Aura, group exhibition, The Holy Art Gallery, London
2021 Boredom is not a Luxury, group exhibition, Craft Central, London
2021 Sussex Art Fair
2017 Geometric, group exhibition, Oxmarket Gallery Chichester
2016 Rewire, Guildhall Chichester, group show in partnership with West Sussex County Council
2016 RITUAL, group show at Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester
2015 Idea of the Wrong, article in Photopedagogy
2015 Basis, group show at Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester
2013 Book Arts, group show at Saatchi Gallery education room
2013 Next, with the Diocese of Chichester, at St Bartholomews chapel in Chichester. A group exhibition exploring questions about the soul and the afterlife through contemporary media.
2012 Foundation Art & Design Celebration, presentation at the British Museum on progressive methods of art and design teaching for Edexcel with Greyson Perry.
2008 Lesson, group show at Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester
2002 Listen, audio visual collaboration with Prof. Julio Santiago (Psycholinguistics), University of Grenada, Spain
2000 Exit, group show at The Chisenhale Gallery, 64 Chisenhale Rd, London
1999 Just, a fiction novel. I.S.B.N.: 84-88423-128, D.L.: CO-1.258/1999
1999 The “A” Gallery, group show at The A Gallery, Battersea, London
1998 Flat, group show at The Castle, Greenlanes, Islington, London.
1998 Leisure, group show in association with London Borough of Southwark Council. Camberwell Leisure Centre, London.
1998 Empathy, solo show at The Spare Gallery, The London Institute, London.
1996 And Still to Come..., group show at The Art Gallery, 35 Brixton Station Rd, London.
1996 Free Beer, group show at The Shooting Gallery, Darnley Rd, London.
1995 The Royal Family, group show at The Monstrous Carbuncle Gallery, 20 Ensign Street, London.