Carsten Beck is a Danish artist and designer that originally worked in the fields of graphic design, illustration, and photography. When he began to experiment with translating his graphic sketches into oil on canvas and lithography in 2019, he became an overnight success in the international art world.
The architectural nature of Beck’s past experiences shines through in his use of smooth yet sharp forms. On his canvases, Beck’s geometric perspectives uses a combination of a mathematician’s attention to detail and Scandinavian minimalist design. These large, angular shapes dominate the piece, whilst the areas of negative space allow for quiet reflection. This harmonious balance of light and dark carries a power that rises above the superficial - Beck’s extremely intentional union of precise forms creates a visually satisfying outcome.
Exclusively working in monochrome, these contrasting shades work to subvert and affect the spaces they inhabit almost as optical illusions. These structures use an engineered language to speak to us of the process that Beck has used to create these images. His inspirations are born in the act of walking, discovering new routes, angles and perceptions of the world around him - the sharp turns and directions of the paintings read to us like a map of Beck’s creative thoughts. Allowing us to see his creative process within the oils is an intimate bond between the artist and the viewer, connected through the canvas.
Composition NO.12 by Carsten Beck.
For Cartsten Beck, he doesn’t feel as though his art needs to necessarily represent or depict something more than a painting or make sense in a narrative way. It is more crucial to him that the composition and the placement of figures are correct from the start. Making the simple appear interesting is a delicate skill that Beck has mastered and uses to present to us a carefully constructed symphony of features in an enticing harmony.
Beck has exhibited solo in Odense, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Italy and many others as well as in group shows such as at the Circle Culture Gallery in Berlin in 2023.
These non-figurative works transcend time as the dimensional aspects of his paintings will remain satisfying to the human eye for years to come. Infinitely timeless and monumental, we are very excited to work with Carsten Beck this year.
For more information, please email info@rhodescontemporaryart.com
