Recently Dominican artist, Shadrach Burton, opened his fifth solo art show in China, where he has been making a name for himself in the art world.
In many ways the show is a culmination of years of interest in art since he has been participating in art exhibitions from the age of 12. He held his first solo art show at the Old Mill in 2006.
Burton describes himself as a social media contemporary artist. His early (pre-China) painting style was influenced by Earl Etienne Ellingworth Moses. His older brother, Gharan, is also an oil painter in New York.
The artist is from Wotten Waven and is a former biology teacher at the Dominica Grammar School.
In 2007 he moved to China to pursue studies in oil painting at the China Academy of Art.
Although Burton is currently doing a Master’s Degree in oil painting he dabbles with almost anything which involved making art including poetry, photography, cyber graffiti, building art installations and making videos.
His latest collection of art dubbed “Meanwhile … ” was inspired by the recent onset of smog in the city where he lives in China. He uses excessively thick paint with wild brushstrokes to represent the polluted air and a complete painting may have up to 40 pounds of oil paint on the canvas.
The 27-year-old artist currently uses a painting style which combines excessive paint, bold colours, social commentary and imaginary concepts with slight amount of pop culture influence.
Over the last few years he has been making a name for himself on the art scene in Hangzhou (a “small” city of about 7-million people located to the south of Shanghai).
The word “Neo-expressionism” is sometimes used to describe the artwork of Burton but it really is hard to put a clear label on what he does partly because of the fact that his art is continually evolving.
Since his days as a young teen artist on the local art scene he has gone from being a mostly landscape painter to being the social media contemporary artist he is today.
When he is not busy creating art, Shadrach often spends time outdoors skateboarding or riding BMX with his friends and sometimes does petty modelling jobs.
Burton is scheduled to graduate next July after which he intends to return home to Dominica and help young artists to chase their dreams both by serving as a source of inspiration and actually teaching art classes.
See two paintings of the artist below.
Good job, hope one day you could have your work shown in the Museums in New York, reach for the skies.
Well Done Shadrach! Well Done!
you always had that spark!!!!!!!!!!! so proud.
The Burton family are sensational..self taught by a rasta father and mom in the hills of wotten waven amidst the floriculture and art form of their parents they have displayed an incredible capacity to overcome adversity and become multi talented in the conventionall world ..
A story by DNO on this family will be illuminating
This is amazing stuff! congrats Burton!
I appreciate as well that your painting seems to reflect your current surroundings – your environs certainly influenced those pieces.
KEEP UP THE IRIE WORK N LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY MORE FROM YOU
God has truly blessed your hands. Mr.Burton and what are you giving him in return.making a name on earth is good but not having your name written in the lambs book of life is extremely dangerous.make Jesus Lord of your life and he will add double blessings to you
my friend from college…continue chasing your dreams….great job
Love it, the colours are fantastic, composition stunning. Congratulations.
Congratulations, Shadrach. I always had full confidence in you, that you can go places. And you are!!! Keep up the good work. Very wise decision to come back to assist… and not stay outside and find fault with those who are trying.
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He good..
Very good work. Keep it up!!!
I particularly like the painting with the crabs. More imagination there, it appears.
these are beautiful my brother. keep up the good work . If you have a website where we can purchase paintings online, please let us know
Oh my gosh! How beautiful.. The first thing i said, can he paint better than my bro ( : i guess they can share their painting skills. Congrats to u. I love when young people , especially guys, do so much great things with themselves. I would really like u to paint a pic of me.
Congratulations Shadrach
Excellent work by a fellow Dominican. We look forward to your contribution.
PROUD OF YOU FOR MAKING WOTTON WAVEN PROUD
Congratulations! Proud of you!
It’s fantastic to see Dominicans represented in the arts internationally. Neo-Expressionism might not be the most accurate term for his art today, but you can see the influence of that older movement on the crab painting, at least. I wish we were told a bit more about his cyber graffiti work, as well–that sounds interesting.
i got goose bumps by watching the paintings very talented
Great pictures. Keep up the good work. Where can the art be purchased?
There is a gallery in Wotten waven called ” Paradise Art gallery & floral gardens ” . It is owned by his parents , you can visit there to see some of his art work and get a tour of the floral gardens too, then go down to Screws sulphur spa since already in the area.
Yes my youth, big up and keep representing the Arts and culture revolution! Very nice work indeed.
Well done bro! We await your grand welcome home next year if all goes well. Keep up the great work!
I love this, am really happy you will be returning home since i want my daughter to join your class. She has a passion for paints and colours and i really want her to continue her passion. Thanks God bless you.
That is wonderful! Great news indeed.
Way to go Mr. Burton. Keep reaching for higher heights!!