From 12 November, we presents eight recent paintings by Canadian artist Shaun Downey (b. 1978). Ranging from small, almost miniature works measuring just 12.5 × 12.5 cm to paintings spanning more than a metre, the collection invites different ways of looking. The smallest works draw us close, while the larger compositions immerse us in Downey’s quietly absorbing world.
A woman beside a staircase, an averted gaze, light falling softly across a face. In his paintings, everyday moments acquire a remarkable intensity. His sensitivity to light and domestic intimacy recalls Vermeer, while his geometric spaces and introspective figures also invite comparisons with Edward Hopper. Yet contemporary interiors, clothing and everyday objects place his work firmly in the present.
Downey often paints those closest to him, including his partner and friends. Their presence feels familiar, yet their thoughts remain beyond our reach. A posture, a gesture or a glance suggests a story without revealing it. Subtle colour harmonies and carefully composed spaces heighten this delicate tension between what we can see and what remains unknown.
Born in Mississauga and raised in Oshawa, Ontario, Downey initially hoped to pursue animation. His interests shifted towards classical drawing and painting, which he studied at Michael John Angel Studios in Toronto. Alongside this training, he attended Sheridan College, graduating with honours in illustration in 2002 before choosing to devote himself to fine art.
In 2010, his painting Blue Coco was selected for the BP Portrait Award exhibition at London’s National Portrait Gallery and became the exhibition’s principal promotional image. In 2023, he won Canada’s Kingston Prize with Near the Elevator, praised by the jury for its technical mastery and the sensitivity with which he portrayed his sitter.
We warmly invite you to discover these eight paintings in person and take time to appreciate their detail and unspoken stories.
