Dexter Dalwood's London Paintings Exhibition at Simon Lee Gallery

Dexter Dalwood's first exhibition at Simon Lee Gallery marks a departure from his earlier celebrity-themed works, shifting toward politically conscious paintings focused on London. The show features works dated 2013 and 2014 that capture the city's grittier character through anonymous interiors and iconic landmarks. Two paintings depict cult music venues: Roundhouse (2014) shows a stage corner in bloodred tones, while Heaven (2013) portrays the nightclub's exit corridor. Four domestic interior paintings highlight transient bohemian living in London, with Powis Square (2014) referencing the 1970 film Performance and suggesting a Francis Bacon-inspired figure. Dalwood's work incorporates art-historical references to British Pop artists like Patrick Caulfield and David Hockney, as well as Whistler and Bacon. Two Thames scenes—Old Thames and The Thames Below Waterloo (both 2014)—evoke Whistler's nocturnes and Monet's Waterloo Bridge paintings, with the latter unexpectedly including Hockney-esque pool imagery. The painting 1989 (2014) depicts the back of the George IV statue horse on Trafalgar Square, referencing the Poll Tax riots that ended Thatcherism. Dalwood previously addressed these protests in a 2005 painting. His move from Gagosian Gallery to Simon Lee after five years signals a new phase, abandoning explicit celebrity references for a more earnest exploration of London's cultural history and personal nostalgia. The exhibition was reviewed in ArtReview's March 2015 issue.