Artist: Ryan Mosley - 4me4you

4me4you Features - ‘Heavy is the Mountain’.

ABOUT ME

4me4you Features - ‘Heavy is the Mountain’. 4me4you recently had the pleasure of visiting the Josh Lilley Gallery, where the focus was on Ryan Mosley’s captivating exhibition, Heavy is the Mountain.

MY PROCESS

Through Mosley’s unique narrative style and his clever use of art historical references, this series of bold and vibrant paintings introduces a fresh cast of characters alongside his well-established ones.

Musicians, troubadours, cowboys, mountaineers, grape pickers, and pearl divers all make an appearance, from the bourgeois to the blue-collar, the innocent wanderer to the calculating gambler.

They occupy a world of myth and folklore, where their intertwining stories stretch beyond the canvas and into the realms of distant lands and murky pasts.

Mosley’s world blends social and magical realism, drawing influence from artists like Hogarth, Doig, Manet, and Picabia. He weaves themes of class dynamics into a dreamlike environment, where history and geography are fluid.

The tales he tells are both whimsical and romanticised, reflecting Mosley’s working-class upbringing in northern England.

Stories of forgotten ancestors and eccentric relatives have become local legend, bringing the past to life in scenes that evoke a sense of familiarity and deep empathy.

In Mosley’s work, sound and colour work in harmony, bringing each composition to life. There’s often a sense of activity just beyond the frame—whether through the rhythms of nature or the bustle of human interaction.

Celebration, ritual, and natural phenomena like volcanoes rumbling, waves lapping, and trees swaying all pulse with energy. His palette captures the warm glow of a low sun at dawn or dusk, marking moments of toil, reprieve, or anticipation.

The figures Mosley creates, often shown in solitary or intimate moments, showcase his remarkable technical skill, crafted without reference to live models or study. They spring from his imagination just as much as his landscapes, carrying the weight and history of their surroundings.

Mosley refines their positioning and presence within each scene until they feel like part of a larger, unfolding narrative—one that flows seamlessly from painting to painting, hinting at an ongoing story yet to be fully told.

Artist: Ryan Mosley

Gallery: Josh Lilley