Roland Young

26 Jun-25 Aug 2024

Overview

An exhibition of drawings and works on paper celebrating the artistic practice of Roland Young (b. 1953–d. 2023). This is the first-ever institutional exhibition of his work.

Young was known for creating minimal compositions of intricate figurative drawings, depicted through delicately repeated abstract forms. His work finds conversations between various forms of abstraction, symbolism and figuration.

Many of Young’s works portray recurrent themes of parades, tournaments, crowds or intimate gatherings. In each, Young recreated meticulously ordered ‘line-ups’ often found in stadiums, theatre arrangements or military displays to craft unique and intriguing scenarios of celebration.

Drawing on multiple influences, Young’s works on paper become documents of memory and even more often, imagination, illustrating the artist’s generous desire to bring people together.

Young was a resident artist with ActionSpace at Studio Voltaire from 2004. This exhibition will mark the first anniversary of the artist's death.