Fred Cress - Blue Vase Print - Limited Edition of 1

Fred Cress has built a reputation as an intriguing figurative artist – an acerbic, pictorial commentator on the contemporary human condition. “Human nature and human values underpin the images I create” he has said “and particularly those aspects that all of us prefer to keep hidden from view. Picture making is important and I enjoy narratives based on everyday existence. To turn the petty into the significant, to give it drama, colour, movement yet fix it as a memorable image – that’s the aim”. Cress spent some years as an abstract artist “to learn how to make paint live for itself” and then many more as a quasi-abstractionist. This latter phase was particularly productive in 1985 with the “Stages” and “Secrets” drawings and paintings. The subject matter of his narrative grew so strong that by 1988 he could no longer contain it within abstracted shapes and he was to produce the “Tell Tales” series of drawings which were the beginnings of his re-emergence as a figurative artist. 1988 was also the year he won the Archibald Prize and Peoples’ Prize for his portrait of artist John Beard. Since then Cress has not looked back and has produced many works dealing with the secret narratives between us. He has placed his dramas in gardens, on table tops and within large groupings of people. Vases with flowers are decorated with people and are the basis of his recent etchings. A distinguishing feature of Cress’ figuration is that it is not based on photographs. Everything comes from his imagination and his experience of life. The images, therefore, develop an authenticity with which we, as viewers, identify. This disturbs some while amusing others. People think they recognise some of his characters but this is impossible. He is not representing anyone in particular because the aim is to keep the subject as general as possible. One can identify with the behaviour but not those practising it! There is an element of humour to much of his work which Cress feels is essential, in order to cope. Life is so full of surprises yet underlying themes remain the same. The subject is inexhaustible. Fred Cress passed away on 14th October 2009 after a long battle with cancer.

Printmaking:Lithograph on Paper

Artist Produced Limited Edition of:1

Size:22 W x 29.9 H x 0.4 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.