Barry Melsom

Barry Melsom looks outward for inspiration, absorbing the tangible and releasing poetic, angularly rhythmic compositions. Through his transfixing, thoughtfully pointed forms, he conjures a mystical blend of Expressionism and Surrealism, yielding a sumptuous and exceptional style. Mesmerizing in their quietly natural color, Melsom’s works enchant us with a subtle sense of mystery. He purposefully uses an elegiac chiaroscuro, contrasted with pure light and nuanced texture, thus creating a deeply palpable sensitivity. His works are undeniably unique in style and subject, but are also inspired by the masters of the past. Notably, he looks to masters such as Caravaggio, Turner or Kandinsky for formal stimulation. “Ideally, what I hope to achieve with my work is an arresting visual - a visual that not only stops the passing viewer, but contains details so that the longer they look, the more they see.” Indeed, these works are like hypnotizing puzzles, converting ordinary shapes into brilliantly riveting abstractions.

Born and raised in London, Barry Melsom's career moved him to Rome, Milan and New York. He now lives and works in Montreal, Quebec.