Chance Encounters

Rupert Whale

19 May – 5 April 26

The paintings on show are from three periods. The Tangents (2022) series arose from my thinking about the extent to which chance intervenes in our intentions and determines outcomes. In these formulaic geometric paintings, lines cross the picture plane, appearing to intersect circles by accident, creating illusory spaces and different worlds. The earlier Portal series (2020) only allows viewers one perspective of a place, singular and restricted. Counter to these hard-edge paintings is the recent, looser Walk (2026) series. In these artworks, I map out imaginary local rambles and physical and emotional responses to chance encounters with the sights, sounds and activities of suburbia and the open, natural habitat of the common.

Rupert Whale is a painter living and working in London. He studied fine art at Exeter College of Art in the 1970’s and, after a career teaching in schools, completed an MA at Central Saint Martins in 2017, attended an off-site studio programme at Turps and is currently studying for a practice-based prof/doc at the University of East London.

He has artwork in private and public collections, including University of the Arts London, Campari (Italy), and has shown in Sichuan University (China) and Berlin. Winner of the Art Gemini painting prize 2021. He has been represented by Brook Street Gallery in the Affordable Art Fair and the Original Print Fair in London, and supports the Stone Space Gallery.

Private View: Friday 20th March 18:30 – 20:30

Artist’s Q&A: Saturday 21st March 14:00

Website: rupertwhale.com

Instagram: @rupertwhale