Nigel Cooke

Nigel Cooke is renowned for his evocative pieces that blend figurations with abstract and elemental atmospheres.

In the late 1990s and beyond, Cooke has pushed the limits of figurative painting, resulting in a distinctive and varied collection. Lately, he has been examining this portfolio and adopting a concise approach to delve into his diverse array of subjects.

Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of disciplines including palaeontology, neuroscience, classical mythology, and zoology, Cooke's newest works evoke brain circuitry, the anatomy of both humans and animals, and formations found in landscapes. Through his paintings, the artist aims to merge familiar dichotomies such as the mind and body or the human brain and nature into a seamless flow. The abstract designs incorporate elements from both mammals and geology, resulting in a dynamic and uncertain image that blurs the line between various natural associations.

Through notational sketches and paintings created on location at various sites across the globe, Cooke captures the essence of specific places and their inhabitants. His personal vocabulary of forms evolves over time, with autobiographical elements guiding the process. Complementing these forms is a skilful use of colour that adds emotion and focus to Cooke's calligraphic images. These images strike a delicate balance between structure and collapse, held together in tension. While drawing inspiration from abstract expressionism and European Classicism, Cooke's paintings also incorporate staining techniques on raw linen and traditional layering methods to create depth. The final result reveals the artist's meticulous rehearsals and revisions, blending fine, schematic areas with gestural impasto passages. Drawing from his background in figurative painting, Cooke infuses a sense of drawing and representational rendering into his abstract marks. Through their fluidity and enigmatic nature, these marks explore the self as a dynamic entity caught between animalistic states and prehistoric times, bridging the inner world with larger ecosystems beyond.

Nigel Cooke's academic journey took him to both the Royal College of Art and Goldsmiths College, where he completed a PhD in Philosophy. His dissertation delved into the concept of non-linear systems and their presence in the ideologies of George Bataille, Michel Serres, and other thinkers. With a knack for drawing uncommon correlations between seemingly unrelated topics - such as cave paintings and surrealism, or insect mimicry and information physics - his theoretical work cantered on the idea of representation in relation to the natural world. This ultimately shaped his perspective on the significance of painting and its potential.

His artwork has found a place in various renowned public collections across the globe, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and the Astrup Fearnely Museet for Moderne Kunst in Oslo. The Milwaukee Art Museum also houses some of his notable paintings.