Marcus Nelson (b. 1997, Oxford, UK) lives and works in Berlin, Germany.
Working predominantly in painting and installation, Nelson’s practice explores violence and physical performance that takes place within enclosed spaces such as arenas, and theatres. His confrontational works aim to unearth emotional truth, and explore the savage side of human nature. Each work contains a sense of duality, where hope balances on the cusp of despair, and violence bleeds into intimacy; physical landscapes are pushed to breaking point, and true vulnerabilities are exposed from within. The artist’s own body is often a starting point and a vessel through which the final outcome is generated. Through carefully choreographed and staged private performances, Nelson embodies different archetypes and pushes himself to physical extremes in order to feed the rest of his practice.
In the studio, Nelson paints according to a set of rules, with time constraints set according to the size of the canvas being worked on. This process allows only the most essential elements to be discovered through paint, and reflects the artist’s interest in capturing a specific moment in time: one charged with emotional force. Failed images are cast aside, and the ones that remain are caught in a frenzy of movement. In this sense, human error and imperfection becomes an integral part of the work.
CV
Education
2017 - 2021 - Central Saint Martins School of Art, University of the Arts London - BA Fine Art.
2016 - 2017 - Kingston School of Art, Foundation Diploma.
Solo Exhibitions
2022 - Lost Boys, Eve Leibe Gallery, London, U.K.
2021 - Scar Tissue, The Bomb Factory Art Foundation Archway, London, U.K.
Public Installations
2024 - Fools Are Everywhere, Passage, Hermannplatz U- bahn, Berlin, Germany.
2024 - Urban Theatre, Ventana Project, Alt Templehof U- bahn, Berlin, Germany.
2019 - Speaking in Tongues, National Gallery, London, U.K.
Duo Exhibitions
2023 - A Tragedy in Three Acts with Tim Plamper, GROVE, Berlin, Germany.
Museum Exhibitions
2021 - Behind the Glass, Boys Don’t Cry UK in collaboration with the Central Saint Martins Museum and Study Collection (group exhibition), London, U.K.
Group Exhibitions
2023 - New Now (Part 1), Guts Gallery, London, U.K.
2023 - The Other Side of Paradise, The Bomb Factory Art Foundation Marylebone, London, U.K
2022 - Hiraeth, Phillips, Online Exhibition.
2021 - Don’t Go South, Studio Berkheim, Stuttgart, Germany
2021 - Human - ish , See You Next Thursday Online, Curated by Maria Vogel.
2020 - After Hours, Harlesden High Street, Southside Wandsworth, London, U.K.
Residencies
2023 - PLOP Residency, London, U.K.
2022 - Spread Museum, Entrevaux, France.
2020 - The Fores Project, London, U.K.
Selected Press
︎ Summer 2024 - “Marcus Nelson Discusses His New Work and Exhibition, ‘FOOLS ARE EVERYWHERE’, Interview with Art Plugged (ONLINE)
︎ Winter 2023 - “Marcus Nelson in depth on his art, violence and his fascination with darkness”, Interview with Overstandard (ONLINE)
︎ Autumn 2023 - “The Meaning of a Circle”, Interview with Hannah Weidner and Tim Plamper for Curatorial Affairs (ONLINE)
Spring 2023 - “Hungry” Series, interview with HUNGER Magazine (IN PRINT)
︎ Spring 2023 - “Punk, Blowjobs and Britain: go see this hardcore exhibition”, Interview with The Face Magazine (ONLINE)
︎ Spring 2023 - “Ten’s to See: The Other Side of Paradise at The Bomb Factory Marylebone”, interview with 10 Magazine (ONLINE)
︎ Spring 2022 - “Boxing and Painting Have More In Common Than People Realise”, interview with Why Now World (ONLINE)
︎ Autumn 2021 - “The Return of Figurative Painting”, Time Out London (ONLINE)
︎Summer 2021 - “Marcus Nelson’s Art is Tackling Men’s Mental Health Head On”, interview with The Face (ONLINE)
︎Summer 2021 - “Marcus Nelson Examines The Ideals of Masculinity”, interview with Art Plugged (ONLINE)
︎Summer 2020 - “Marcus Nelson - Relating To Our Intertwined Inner Worlds”, interview with DATEAGLE ART (ONLINE)