Interview
Keith Waller - Fear of The Light
Keith has a Mater’s degree in art and design from the University of Brighton. He has worked in graphic commercial art design and as a fine artist for 50 years.
Keith is an artist and designer with an unusual take on life, and that is reflected in his art. His career has been extraordinarily varied, and anybody would be hard-pressed not to call him eclectic.
He is probably best known for his creation of the Tesco logo, and for his cartoons and abstract art. He was a cartoonist for OZ magazine and contributor to The Tate Modern, Liverpool, Consumer Culture exhibition with Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg.
Keith’s work has been extensively exhibited including at The Tate Modern, Liverpool and Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I started exhibiting my work as a teenager in Hyde Park, London with a street traders licence, while also working as a commercial artist and printer.”
What inspires you most?
“As an English island person, the weather is a huge influence. With rainstorms and wonderful clear skies alternating, the light and dark is the inspiration. Mystery is everywhere, imagine Palaces of Light.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I work with the light and dark of the English coastal land and seascape. So we’re all working with an underlying message that those perspectives will never have to vanish.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work can take many years to paint, and in some respects it’s never finally completed. There’s always more to add to the story. Landscapes, the sea, and the people are always changing.
My major body of work over many years is an ever-changing exhibition and publication called ‘Fear of The Light’, exploring dark mysteries and a planet of ghosts and palaces.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Turner and Constable are great storytellers in the English sea and countryside vision. They have richly influenced my work and have made me realize that it’s what you see from the corner of your eye that counts.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process is constant. It involves layers of paint and ink on various substrates, which builds to a graphic picture of the environment. Each year, a layer or idea can be added to a never-ending story.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“You have to be seen to be believed. The artist’s role has always been, and continues to be that of an explorer, challenging both new and old concepts and ideas visually.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Showing my work at Schorn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt, and The Tate Modern, Liverpool in the 1980s was great fun. I also enjoyed working with work by Warhol and Oldenburg alongside my graphic commercial work.”
Website: www.wwallart.com
Instagram: @keithwaller50
