"Matt Small, Julian, 2012" by Matt Small
Native Londoner Matt Small takes traditional portraiture and infuses it with the raw energy of the urban environment. Recording covert footage of passers-by, Small then paints directly onto metal sheets, giving his work immediacy and impact. These are images injected with colour, power and the spirit of the city. By painting young marginalised figures of society he allows the viewer to spend time with these urban characters in the hope that a shared sense of humanity arises, unrestricted by class and social boundaries.