Ian Rayer-Smith on Painting's Power, Instability, and Monumental Scale

Manchester-based painter Ian Rayer-Smith, who began painting at 37 after a transformative encounter in a California gallery, discusses his practice in an interview with Sylvia Walker for Contemporary Art Issue. He describes his work as prioritizing impact over representation, aiming for a physical presence that resists easy explanation. Rayer-Smith draws from Old Masters and contemporary influences, but insists his paintings have their own metabolism, often teetering on the edge of collapse. He discusses series including Abstracted, Misdemeanor, and Trampling Over the Classics, emphasizing freedom, mischief, and a balance of respect and confrontation with art history. On scale, he notes that monumental works become spatial and immersive, but scale must be justified by inherent strength. He views painting as a direct, human form of expression that resists speed. Upcoming projects include a major presentation and gallery expansion. The interview was published on May 6, 2026.