Richie Culver (b. 1979) was born in Withernsea, Yorkshire, England. He now lives and works in London.Metonymies and the proximity of politics hold Richie Culver’s work in a soft tension. His canvases are punctuated with a staccato visual effect, littered with the brand names, logos, rap lyrics and government agencies that are prevalent in and around a working class life. Culver’s work therefore coolly disarms a reading of his work that might be classed as commentary, but the shadow of the state and the repeated motifs of his practice infer a charged stasis that situates his work within a socially concerned dialogue, constantly nodding to the “life and times” or “a day in the life” of a government supported person.Culver’s work is undeniably funny – and the humour is derivative of a certain British attitude to the working class. It does not try to goad our sympathy, but instead presents a joviality that is intoxicating.
Solo exhibitions include: C’est Sombre Vers Le Nord, Lehmann + Silva, Porto (2018); I Could Have Gone Pro, Nuart Gallery, Stavanger, Norway (2018); Raga Night at the Community Centre, Zweisieben, Karlsruhe, Germany (2018), No One Knows Me Like Dawn from the Job Centre, Humber Street Gallery, Kingston upon Hull, UK (2018).
Group exhibitions include: Happy Hour, Curated by Roberto Ekholm, Kristin Hellegjerde Gallery, Melior Place, London (2019); Paper Cuts,Saatchi Gallery, London (2018); Stitchingthecracks, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London. (with Pedro Matos & Lauren Dicioccio) (2018) andThe Politics of Pink,The Dot Project, London (2018).