‘Albert Irvin and Abstract Expressionism’ at RWA, Bristol

Albert Irvin, ‘Untitled 5’ (1970), oil on canvas, 203 x 177cm

Unimpressed by the local talent, many a young, ambitious British artist of the 1950s and 1960s had their head turned by the rugged good looks and outlaw charm of American Abstract Expressionism. However, Instantloveland has been around for long enough to know that the fires of infatuation always die down in the end: and therefore isn’t in the least surprised to note that for Irvin, at any rate, the studied cool of the Post-Painterly Abstraction that followed it seemed the better choice for a long-term relationship…

Albert Irvin, ‘Kestrel’ (1981), acrylic on canvas, 213 x 305cm

‘Albert Irvin and Abstract Expressionism’ is at RWA, Bristol, until 3rd March 2019.