David Bray
Biography
(British, b. 1970)
David Bray’s compelling works come from a lifetime love of drawing and an active imagination. Born in Dartford, Kent, in 1970, as a child Bray would draw images of space travel, where he would depict himself and his friends visiting other planets and universes. His interest soon moved to London in the 1970’s, but too young for the punk movement to interest him, he began to explore a dark, egotistical fantasy world, which is still apparent in the work he makes today.
Using basic working tools, such as pens, pencils and paper bought from ordinary stationary shops, Bray creates intricate, time-consuming drawings, which explore emotion, utopia and a world of fantasy. Many of the works are based on past experiences, old relationships or current friendships, which is apparent from the titles he gives works such as ‘Seasons of Missed Opportunities 1 and 2’; two portraits of beautiful girls surrounded by decorative flowers. At first glance these works are images of perfection, but the title suggests something lost, or a feeling of regret, and suddenly they become bitter portraits of disappointment and missed chances. This sinister side is apparent in much of Bray’s work, which can often be quite dark. Sexy, sluttish women, who are often semi-naked and in fetish gear, appear in gardens of paradise in compromising positions with stags or birds of prey, and are sometimes surrounded by cute, pathetic-looking characters who seem out of place in the picture. Is this the artist’s subconscious working out his own fetishes? Could the cute characters be seen as some form of self-portraiture?
Towed along the long corridors of the Royal Academy of Arts in London by his father from a young age, Bray was brought up in an environment of creativity and imagination. The lifelong love of drawing paved the way to a successful commercial career and first solo show in English capital in 2007, one which was followed by several shows in London - and led to inclusion in international group exhibitions. Today, the artist works and lives south of London, where he is currently unpacking boxes after his recent move.