About

Ian Cumberland was born in Banbridge, Co. Down, in 1983. He studied fine art at University of Ulster, where he was awarded the John and Rachael Turner Award for the most outstanding student in their field. He graduated in 2006 with First Class Honours.

'As a painter Cumberland’s main interest is with people and the (often absurd) things they do. Thus his pictures reflect situations in everyday life, attitudes and values expressed or implied and so on. In his own words, he is ‘always watching people’ and his observations shape his compositions. There is nothing judgemental in his work, but he indulges in what he calls ‘black comedy’ in terms of the general surrealism that is never far from his view. His early pictures, were much influenced by graphic design and the world of advertising as well as by images derived from the cinema, and traces of these influences can still be seen. The mass media, too, increasingly influence his thinking.

The sense of drama that is central to Cumberland’s work is enhanced buy his use of a plain background in his pictures so that, whatever the imagery, people and things are always seen out of context... In all his work Cumberland records with great skill differences in textures of materials and so on and this dexterity he also hopes to develop in the future. Once decided upon, his compositions are set down precisely on the canvas with no trace of hesitation or alteration. The paint, too, is applied directly in an even film with little or no impasto and the colours remain clear and un-muddied. In spite of the fact that his pictures include likenesses, he doesn’t think of himself as a portraitist, although... he might perhaps develop more in this direction.'

Dr. S. B Kennedy
Formerly Head of Art, Ulster Museum

Ian's first major solo exhibition was at the Albemarle Gallery in London, 2008. He exhibited his painting ‘one in two’ at the prestigious BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery, in June 2009. Later that year he was awarded the KPMG Emerging Artist Award at the Royal Ulster Academy. Most recently, Cumberland's captivating 'self-portrait' won the 2010 Davy Portrait Award, a major new arts prize which aims to celebrate contemporary portraiture.

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