The paintings in the Escapism series, explore my surroundings and are painted as expressionist works. They are an inquiry into how landscapes, seascapes and cityscapes can momentarily reset our minds.
These panoramas are a positive distraction from real-life. They offer a moment to leave reality behind. I believe we need this emotional respite.
I paint scenes with the aim of awakening the viewer's subconscious. This done capturing depth, mood and light through multiple lenses.
There are hints of the familiar, such as buildings, trees, mountains and rocks, scenes which become panoramic and dreamlike the longer the time spent viewing them. A theatre of movement exists that I am keen to capture through an interplay of emotions.
Drawing inspiration from my travels, absorbing scenes and textures on the move, I make observations using a camera and sketching. After exploring initial ideas and colour playlists, I paint with rapid brushstrokes, a limited palette applying paint with unusual mark making tools.
I like the spontaneity, transparency and viscosity of watercolour. Working with acrylics enables me to express textures differently than with watercolour.
Artist’s statement
Biography
Kristian Bluff (b.1963 in Chiswick - an artist’s hood in London) is an Anglo-Dane with a practice in Copenhagen.
Following a BA in graphics at KDAK in Copenhagen, he had a long career in design, while maintaining painting as a “side hustle”. He is largely self-taught. Today, Kristian is an emerging professional artist exhibiting in Copenhagen, London, Malmø and Sao Paulo. He is a guest artist at the Nordic Art Agency. His work is found in private collections in Europe and USA.
CV
Group exhibitions
International Group Exhibition - Nordic Art Agency Gallery - Malmø 2025
Kulturnatten - Skabelonloftet - Copenhagen 2024
Summer Exhibition - The Chelsea Arts Club - London 2024
Summer Exhibition - The Nordic Art Agency - Malmø 2024
Open Studios Skabelonloftet - Copenhagen 2024
The Affordable Art Fair Pop-up / The Nordic Art Agency - Malmø 2024
The Nordic Art Agency x Winter Exhibition - Malmø 2023
Artly Mix Gallery - Sao Paulo 2023
Havnegalleriet - Dragoer 2023
Echos Gallery - Sao Paulo 2023
Gallery@OXO - London 2022
Open Studios / Aabne Doere - Lyngby 2022
Wales Contemporary - Milford Haven 2022
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists RBSA 2022
Awards
Longlisted - The Visual Art Open 2024 UK & Internaitonal Emerging Artist Award
Longlisted - The Visual Art Open 2023 UK & International Emerging Artist Award
Art Fairs
Affordable Art Fair / Nordic Art Agency / Stockholm 2024
Art Nordic - Copenhagen 2022
Solo Exhibitions
Gallery Estrup - Copenhagen 2024
Medicon Village - Lund/Sweden 2024
Copenhagen Business School Art Club 2024
Ledernes Art Society - Copenhagen 2023
SDC Consultants Art Assoc. - Ballerup 2023
Cntr. for Innovative Medtech Art Assoc. - CPH 2023
Dragoer Havne Galleri - Dragoer 2023
aCure Private Hospital - Lyngby 2023
The practice
The first in a series of short videos about my practice