Charles Harrison

Charles Harrison (b. 1986, Kenya) is a dynamic contemporary artist whose work explores the depths of human emotion and connection. Since graduating in 2007, he has captivated collectors and audiences alike, first gaining recognition with a series of sell-out exhibitions with Woodbine Gallery.

Harrison’s paintings are not portraits in the traditional sense but rather expressions of human experience—fluid, layered, and deeply introspective. His figures emerge from textured surfaces, built through an instinctive process of abstraction and realism. By layering color, mark-making, and spatial depth, he creates works that evoke the complexity of human interaction and perception.

“In these faces,” Harrison explains, “I seek a kind of abstract realism—one that resonates both visually and emotionally. I want the viewer to feel a moment of recognition, as if their gaze is met and understood.”

With a growing international presence, his work is now held in numerous private and public collections worldwide, solidifying his reputation as an artist whose work speaks to the universal nature of human connection.

Works displayed here are part of an archive of paintings, sculptures, drawings and studies made from 2007-2017. Pieces in this archive...

The University of Northampton - BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting