The point where the natural world and the man-made world collide is the focus of Nicholas Pace’s paintings.
In recent work, Pace utilizes appropriated backgrounds from C18th Capriccios. ‘Capriccio’ is the Italian art historical term most usually associated with the painted architectural fantasies of artists such as Canaletto and Panini, where ancient buildings are combined with imaginary ones or are displayed with their locations rearranged.
Pace riffs on this highly regarded tradition by taking existing imagery and repurposing it in surprising ways.
In Untitled (exotics no 1) an idiosyncratic and diverse selection of ‘actors’ including a Toco Toucan, a Rainbow Bee-eater, a Tortoise and a Butterfly repopulate a Capriccio, which now functions like a stage set.
“There is a cultural language that I am exploring here, that we are almost programmed to have enormous respect and show deference for classically inspired architecture, representing as it does the power of the State. It is the default building style of the Western capital city”.
The distinction between the foreground and background in Pace’s paintings is emphasised by the contrasting approaches in the manner each is painted; the background is austere and monochromatic, rendered in a style long associated with under-painting procedures of the Academy, whereas the foreground figures are depicted in sumptuous polychromatic oil paint. These highly considered compositions are derived from the numerous collages Pace creates as part of his working process.
“My aim in these paintings is to create a convincingly believable world, albeit a fantastical one - where the ‘actors’ are happily situated whilst simultaneously clearly transposed from a completely different place. The intention is to create both a visual and conceptual paradox, akin to a theatrical production.”

Nicholas Pace is an English Artist whose work represents a distillation of his life-long interests; Natural History and Art History being points of departure for his highly wrought paintings.
He was awarded the Elizabeth T. Greenshields Painting Scholarship for his post-graduate studies at the University of London and is a past winner of the South of England Prize at the National Open Art Competition.
He is a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy Summer Show and has recently exhibited in ‘A Bird in the Head’ at Danielle Arnaud Gallery, London and ‘To be continued’ at the Jerwood Gallery, Hastings.