INTERNATIONALLY-RENOWNED abstract artist Alex Echo will be presenting his new collection ‘The Shape of Things’ at Castle Galleries in Leamington on Saturday July 16, as part of a UK tour that will see him visit 12 galleries this summer.
Completely self-taught and without any formal training, Echo has created artwork professionally for 37 years, garnering the attention of some the world’s top corporations, institutions and celebrities as collectors.
Born in Colorado, USA, Echo is best known for creating more advertisements for Absolut vodka than any other artist, having developed four 2000 square foot billboards on the iconic Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. He also created one of Swatch watches most successful artists watches, the “Imagine Love” watch, has collaborated with designer Paul Smith for a London Fashion Week range and has sold works to celebrities including Madonna, Elton John and Oprah Winfrey among others.
One of his recent projects included painting a bespoke guitar for charity by request of Eric Clapton, which sold at auction for £20,000. In addition, Echo has worked relentlessly for various charities and institutions, raising nearly $850,000 from the direct sale of his work for a multitude of projects.
After years living and working in New York’s East Hampton – renowned for its creative artist community – Echo now lives in the UK where he cites the English landscape as his primary source of inspiration. His new collection ‘The Shape of Things’ seeks to portray human emotions and the elemental beauty found in nature.
Echo, who was signed to fine art publishers Washington Green over five years ago, joining its diverse portfolio of contemporary artists, said:
“My work is the connection to my inner self…I have explored every possible form of art and looked to every possible inspiration, and yet this long process has always bought me back to nature, to beauty on the simplest plane.
“I hope that people can fall into these paintings and roll around in them. Look up at the blue sky through them. Smell the spring and summer breeze with them. Recall how sweet life can be seeing them – and remember how important the earth is to us all.”
Simon Daw, Gallery Manager for Leamington Spa’s Castle Galleries – Washington Green Fine Art’s nationwide network of retail galleries – said:
“We are looking forward to welcoming an international art talent to Leamington.
“Growing up in 1950s America, the Abstract Expressionist movement has greatly influenced Alex. A disciple of techniques practised by Rothko, Pollock and De Kooning, he combines aspects of expressionism, impressionism and minimalism to create beautiful works of art.”
Alex Echo will be presenting the new collection of works at the Regent Street gallery from 1pm to 4pm.
Visit www.castlegalleries.com for further details
