Once upon a time, Nicholas Party was on the run from the police for his unique street art, adorning European trains and buildings with his distinctive style. Fast forward to today, and now he’s being invited by impressive galleries and museums to showcase his work.
His latest creations are remarkable large murals adorned with soft pastel colors, drawing inspiration from 17th-century Dutch painters and 18th-century British artists. The Holburn Museum in Bath is currently showing his latest pieces.
After completing his murals, Party expressed his enthusiasm for having his work displayed at Holburn, which is located in beautiful late 18th-century buildings. He shared, “It’s great to be in such a spectacular place.”
In this new project, which marks his first major mural in an English gallery, Party borrowed elements from a small oil painting by Benjamin Gerritz found in Holburn’s collection. This piece is reminiscent of the brawny works of Cuyp, a Dutch painter famed for his striking landscapes.
Throughout four days of work, he reinterpreted rather intense images across the gallery walls, leaving behind a significant amount of pastel dust.
He also employed tiny pieces of pastel to create a linen piece that portrays two horses styled after a famous painting by Stubbs, featuring a tranquil, ghostly human face nestled between them.
The second part of the mural, which somewhat obscures the main action, is interpreted as a brawl among farmers, echoing themes present in Gerritz’s work. This smaller piece features a portrait of two horses.
Party revealed that he is particularly drawn to Dutch paintings due to their often “stricken, funny” subject matter. He remarked, “It’s not just a typical portrait or sweet landscape; it’s even more unique.” He aimed to closely replicate the original mural, with the addition of the horse and face becoming a pivotal part of his vision.
Interestingly, he mentioned that he wasn’t concerned about the main dramatic elements of the mural being hidden by the smaller image. “I think combining them both is part of my job,” he explained.
Creating the murals posed some logistical challenges, such as needing to prepare the walls with acrylic paint, water, and sawdust to achieve the right texture for the pastels.
Party acknowledged that the process could be tricky and dusty. “So, it gets a bit confusing, and pastels do generate a lot of dust,” he said, mentioning how he often found himself surrounded by it. He works with both hands to blend the pastels, producing various textures and colors, a physically demanding task that can leave him feeling quite exhausted.
This recent work is part of an exhibition titled “Nicolas Party: Copper & Dust,” showcasing smaller pieces that feature striking landscapes and portraits created with copper oil.
Chris Stevens, the director of Holburn, expressed excitement about exhibiting Party’s work, emphasizing his profound knowledge of art history. “His fascination with 17th-century Dutch painting and 18th-century pastels makes Nicholas’ art a perfect fit in Holburn’s collection,” he noted.
