Michael Stubbs British, b. 1961

Overview
Paintings identity is at an interesting crossroads and I try to reflect this through the paintings chaotic visual spaces.
(Michael Stubbs, in conversation with John Chilver, ‘Short Studio Film’)

Stubbs is internationally recognised for the unique quality of his paintings, which are constructed by combining abstract configurations of transparent varnishes and opaque household paints with pop art graphic stencils. This layering produces multiple perspectives and optical depths. His contemporary language of abstraction is a play between material manipulation, three-dimensionality and physical space, and this language is formalised into a unique sense of composition and a rich sensual surface texture. As Barry Schawbsky wrote in the exhibition catalogue for Post Flat:New Art from London (2003), ‘Stubbs’s imagery seems constantly on the verge of converging into some form of cultural commentary, but the fundamental abstractness and even irrationality of his overlapping poured shapes seems calculated to prevent that – to insist on the painting as an agreement to disagree between wayward materials and stubborn intentionality’.

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Works
Biography
Michael Stubbs (born 1961) is a British painter. After completing a Master’s Degree at Goldsmiths’ in 1990, Stubbs started exhibiting internationally in both group and solo exhibitions. He also curated a number of well reviewed exhibitions, inviting artists and curators to collaborate. 
BETWEEN 1999 AND 2003 HE RETURNED TO GOLDSMITHS TO TAKE A PHD IN FINE ART; HIS THESIS WAS ENTITLED DIGITAL EMBODIMENT IN CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT PAINTING.
He is now Reader in Contemporary Painting at the Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow University. 
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Exhibitions
Bibliography

 Selected Publications

2020  

Carl Robinson (Ed.), PhotographyDigitalPainting: Expanding Medium Interconnectivity in Contemporary Visual Arts Practice, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK

 

Magnus Quaiffe, Mark Wright (Ed.), Teaching Painting International: Painting the New, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK        

2018    

Ian Hartshorne/Sean Kaye, Fully Awake: Teaching Painting, Dyson Gallery, Royal College of Art, London, UK

 

Paul Carey Kent/Catherine Loewe/Michael Stubbs, Superimposition, Partners & Mucciaccia Gallery, London, UK

 

Ed. Carl Robinson, PaintingDigitalPhotography: Conjunction and Distinction in the Age of Media Equivalence, Cambridge Scholars Press, UK

2014   

Mark Kremer, When Elephants Come Marching In: Sixties Echoes in Todays Art, De Appel, Amsterdam, Holland

2012  

Mark Kremer, Porta Nigra: Black Gate, Hidde Van Seggelen Gallery, London, UK

2011 

Terry Myers (Ed.), Documents of Contemporary Art: Painting, Whitechapel Gallery, London/MIT Press, Cambridge Massachusetts, UK

2010

John Chilver, Michael Stubbs, Laurent Delaye Gallery, London, UK

2008 

John Chilver/Perry Roberts/Michael Stubbs, Superstratum, Koraalberg Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium

 

Ann Bukantas, John Moores 25: Contemporary Painting, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, UK

2006       

Ann Bukantas, John Moores 24: Contemporary Painting, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, UK

2005

David Ryan, Interweave: Ebb & Flow, Three Colts Gallery, London, UK; Raid Projects, Los Angeles, USA

2004

Primo Marella, Stay Positive, Marella Contemporary Art, Milan, Italy

2003

Gerard Hemsworth/Suhail Malik, Painting as a Foreign Language, Centro Britanico Barzsiliero, Sao Paulo, Brazil

 

Ute Reisse, New Abstract Painting; Painting Abstract Now, Museum Morsbroich, Leverkusen, Germany

 

Frederick Cuming, Royal Academy Illustrated 2003, Selection from 235th Summer Exhibition, London, UK

 

Barry Schwabsky, Post Flat, Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, USA

2002

David Ryan, Vivid, Richard Salmon Gallery, London, UK; Mead Gallery, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK; Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland, UK

 

Suhail Malik, Painting as a Foreign Language, Centro Britanico Braziliero, Sao Paulo, Brazil

1999

Tom Trevor, Elastic Abstract, Spacex Gallery, Exeter, UK

1996

Stuart Morgan, Out of Order, IAS, London, UK; John Hansard Gallery, University of Southampton, UK; Cornerhouse Gallery, Manchester, UK

1995

Adrian Searle, Works for a Complex Age, New Voices: British Council, Germany/Romania

1994

Michael Corris, Punishment & Decoration, Hohenthal und Bergen Gallery, Cologne, Germany

1993

Stuart Morgan, Mandy Loves Declan 100%, Mark Boote Gallery, New York, USA

 

Gill Hedley & Andrea Rose, New Voices, British Painting 1989-93, British Council, Turkey/Spain

 

Linda Morris, East, Norfolk Institute of Art & Design, Norwich, UK

1992

Gill Hedley & Andrea Rose, New Voices, British Council, Belgium/Luxembourg

 

Mark Kremer, Joy & Pain, ICA, Amsterdam, Holland

1990

Dick Hebdige & Nicholas DeVille, The Concept,The Business,The Art, (Design - Art's Anxiety)

 

Swimming Underwater, Imagination Design & Communication, London, UK
Video