Martyn Cross’s evocative paintings bridge the Medieval and modern eras by intertwining ancient symbolism with contemporary, often whimsical elements. He transforms recognizable landscapes and figures into uncanny, otherworldly scenes, meditating on the inextricable links between humanity and nature. Crafting unique narratives in freshly imagined universes, Cross creates spaces where corporeality and mysticism coexist, and the past and present merge, evoking a sense of timelessness and intrigue.
From intimate small-scale pieces to monumental canvases, Cross's work encapsulates a blend of the earthbound and the celestial. Influenced by medieval imagery, diverse literary genres, and a profound fascination with printed books, Cross's distinctive canvases depict nature spirits, mysterious creatures, and expansive landscapes. The colour palette is muted, utilizing dry-brushed pigments to achieve a weathered, worn texture reminiscent of medieval manuscripts and frescoes. Recurring motifs like billowing clouds, tumbling waterfalls, and oversized pointing fingers populate his biomorphic landscapes, weaving deliberately ambiguous and mystifying narratives and creating a visual language that balances the ordinary with the extraordinary.
Martyn Cross (b. 1975 in Bristol, UK) graduated with a BA in Fine Art from Bath Spa University in 1998. His work has been exhibited across Europe, US and UK. Recent group and solo exhibitions include After Dark, Newchild, Antwerp (2024); cuerpo & alma, alma I cuerpo, Fundación Medianoche1, Granada (2024); All Should Be Well, Marienne Boesky, New York (2023, solo); Polireality, Hive Center for Contemporary Arts, Beijing (2023, solo); My Assembled Selves, Flatland Projects, London (2023, solo); We Share the Same Sky, Vortic Art, online (2023); Ares, OHSH Projects, Cromwell Place, London (2023); O happiness! happiness!, Hales Gallery, London (2022, solo); Roarings Further Out, Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York (2022, solo); Myths of Observation, Hales Gallery, London (2022), among others. His work is included in the collection of Fundacion Medianoche0, ICA Miami, NN Contemporary Art and The Roberts Institute of Art. He lives and works in Bristol.