INTRODUCING SCOTT BAUER
Scott Bauer's love affair with art can be traced back to a single event in his lifetime. A family trip to the Ringling Museum of Art in Florida became the unlikely source of inspiration as a young Scott was presented with countless Renaissance and Baroque painting: an unlikely scenario when situated on the arid shoreline of the Gulf Coast.
Though perhaps not consciously, this afternoon visit formed a deep-rooted love for art, propelling Scott to study art history at university before embarking on an impressive career within the arts; first as a specialist at Sotheby’s, then as a curator for a private collector and lastly as a gallery director. However, it wasn’t until Scott took a step back from his academic career to realise that actually, what really inspired him was the creative process involved in art and that being the artist himself was his true calling.
Starting, like many artists do, with portraiture and landscapes, Scott’s style has evolved over the years into more fluid, linear abstractions with each piece always anchored to the natural world. “Two aspects of work that have always fascinated me are linear formalism and naturalism", says Scott whose most recent works explore this relationship via reconciling an illusionary space that is both formal in colour and form yet still relates to nature. The result is a series of paintings that are based upon chromatic colour palettes inspired by nature – a sunset experienced on holiday in Rhodes, for example – combined with the strong structure of linear design and characteristics. This power play between formal structure and the uncontrolled whimsy of nature helps Scott to create paintings that feel unique and inspired.
Like the living world, Scott’s artwork contains a rhythmic pulse that bursts out of the canvas thanks to his expressive line work and colour palettes. “Music is essential when I am working” says Scott, who references various musical genres during his creative process. “If a work feels too dry or formal I might play Florence + The Machine" says Scott, whilst the deep melodic intervals of Richard Strauss can often provide the drama and intense ambience Scott requires to complete a painting. As a result, Scott’s works breathe emotion and life, pulsating off the canvas and resonating with its viewer.
“Tide” is one of Scott’s more recent works and explores a more expressionist vocabulary. Like the iconic Expressionists of the late ninetieth and early twentieth centuries, Scott experiments with how paint is applied to the canvas and how it sits within the composition. Paint is laid on in subtle modulations of colour and a rhythm is created by pushing and pulling the material in varying directions, creating a composition that bulges with energy and vivre. “Tide” is largely vertical which Scott says reminds him of a literally tidal wave and the rhythm and constancy of the ocean.
Scott Bauer’s “Tide” artwork is currently on loan from Clive Christian Furniture Weybridge’s partner gallery, Wyecliffe Galleries and is on exhibit in the showroom.
To find full showroom details and how to contact our team in Weybridge, please click here.
To make an appointment to view the piece or to learn more about Scott’s work visit The Wyecliffe Galleries.