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Guy Reid's realistic sculptures that look like Marvel superheroes or plastic children's toys

Artist Guy Reid will be exhibiting a new body of work at London's Coningsby Gallery this October, one that demonstrates the craftsmanship and experience of his artistry whilst realising a deeper exploration into colour and form.

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Bright green resin sculpture of a muscular male figure with arms raised triumphantly, rendered in Guy Reid's realist style

Reid’s skill as a carver is very much on display with these pieces, each sculpture acutely rendered in his signature realist approach. The presence of several new nude works also shows his continued interest in the human form.

The point of departure from his current oeuvre is in his almost monochromatic application of colour to illuminate his chosen subject. Reid’s use of single tones, and a palette that is as far removed as is possible from what we would consider naturalistic, at once emphasises the draughtsmanship in his work and brings his sculptures into the realm of the abstract. It is this perceived dichotomy that presents an exciting challenge for the viewer, and demonstrates Reid’s confidence as an artist.

With this shift we are also invited to consider new emergent themes in Reid’s work: Claude Lége, Director of the Musée de Patrimone à Barthete de Boussan, remarks that there are parallels to be drawn between Reid’s new sculptures and ‘the resin casts of Marvel superheroes, or plastic children’s toys…"The resulting body of work is healthy and robust where humour is present, but does not exclude thought or transcendence".

This attracts the question of how Reid’s day-to-day role as a parent – he became a father in 2012 – influences his work. Reid has often spoken about how his artistic practice and daily life shape and inform each other. It is not hard therefore to see how the significance of being a caregiver and the accompanying paraphernalia of a child’s world may well have had an impact, not only on a deeply personal level but also on his methodology and resulting work.

Arisen will take place 9 - 27 October 2017 at the Coningsby Gallery. More information can be found at coningsbygallery.com.

Bright red sculptural bull's head with curved horns and hollow eye sockets against a white background
Bright red sculptural form resembling an abstracted bull's head with curved horns, carved in Guy Reid's realist style
Dark blue sculptural crab with red markings and a yellow trident-like object protruding from its back, set against a white background
White resin sculpture of an abstract bird-like form with curved and pointed elements against a neutral background
Light blue resin sculpture of a nude male figure in a horizontal diving pose with arms outstretched against a white background
Light blue monochromatic sculpture of a nude figure in a horizontal flying pose against a white background
Light blue monochromatic sculpture by Guy Reid of a nude male figure in a horizontal plank position
Pale mauve sculptural figure of a bald man with arms stretched horizontally, torso and head viewed from the front against a white background
Bright red carved head sculpture with upswept hair and serene expression, shown against a white background
Bright red carved head sculpture by Guy Reid depicting a woman's face with hair swept upward, shown against a white background
Bright green realist sculpture of a male figure standing with arms raised above his head against a white background
Nude male figure sculpture carved in lavender purple, shown in profile standing upright against a white background
Purple monochromatic nude male figure sculpture standing against a white background, demonstrating Guy Reid's realist carving technique and use of single-tone colour application
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