Last Light: Season's End
James Riches
7–21 December 2023
Harnessing the fleeting palettes and momentary beauty of the changing skies, James Riches' paintings are a contemplative, perhaps romanticized study of suburban scenes. Offering a narrative touched with nostalgia, his paintings place us within the magical hours as the world quietens down with the dipping of the sun, to emerge anew and hopeful with each breaking dawn.
As Riches’ practice slowly moves in a new direction, these artworks are both a result of, and a subtle nod toward the artist’s transition into a new era of painting, as his lens shifts focus to new horizons.
Last Light: Season’s End is presented by BSG Projects. James Riches is represented by Brunswick Street Gallery.
Please join us for a drink to celebrate the opening of Last Light: Seasons End on Friday 8 December (6–8PM).
exhibition collection
LIVE 11AM WEDNESDAY 6 DECEMBER
Drawing has always been a primary interest of James Riches'. Completing his Bachelor of Fine Art (majoring in drawing) at RMIT in 2008, this has taken him down various paths exploring illustration, observational drawing and conceptual ideas of a contemporary drawing practice. His long held interest in the tradition of oil painting now forms the focus of his current art practice.
There has been continuity through these explorations of a somewhat dark, vaguely idyllic notion of landscape in suburbia. These environments are rarely unmarked by human presence or behaviour. The idea of a park, a footbridge, the walk home through an industrial estate, may have composed his life to some extent – and consequently the content for making art.
