JULYAN DAVIS •   ASHEVILLE, NC

Having established himself as a realist painter, Julyan Davis is exploring aspects of Modernism in his work. Both his urban streetscapes and his landscapes combine traditional techniques with a new emphasis on surface and the abstract qualities of a painting.

Davis received a BA degree in painting and printmaking from Byam Shaw School of Art (UK). He has exhibited extensively throughout the UK and the Southeastern US including at the Birmingham Museum of Art (AL). Davis’ paintings are in the collections of the Gibbes Museum of Art (SC), Greenville Museum of Art (SC), Morris Museum (GA), Sloss Furnaces National Historic Monument (AL), Highgate Cemetery Museum (UK), Banker’s Club (OH), Skyline Club (IN) and Goodrich Corporation (NC) and the North Carolina Governor’s mansion and Western residence. Julyan currently works from his studio in North Carolina.

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

Greenville County Museum of Art, SC. Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC. Morris Museum, Augusta, GA. Governor’s Mansion, Raleigh, NC Governor’s Western Residence, Asheville, NC B.F. Goodrich Corp. Charlotte, NC. Sloss Furnaces National Historic Monument, Birmingham, AL. Banker's Club, Cincinnati, Ohio. Skyline Club, Indianapolis, IN. Retirement Systems of Alabama, Montgomery, AL. Birmingham Southern College, Birmingham, AL. University of Montevallo, Montevallo, AL. Samford University, Birmingham, AL. Bascom Fine Art Center, Highlands, NC. Byam Shaw Permanent Collection, London. National Bank of Commerce. Amsouth Bank Compass Bank.

I am trying to emphasize the flat, abstract nature of a painting without losing a sense of depth and mood. I want the viewer to not see the painting all at once but instead try to replicate something of the way we see: One detail visible before another; the eye moving around the canvas enough that the painting will always seem new.