Simon Oldfield Gallery is pleased to present Jonathan Trayte’s first solo exhibition, Under a Pine Tree.

Trayte’s painted bronze sculptures and aluminium paintings feature imagery that resembles food, confectionery and natural forms.

The sculptures and paintings intoxicate the eye with their synthetic, come-on colours and bruise the mind with their duplicating profiles. Seductive, irresistible; they are flamboyant forgeries; the fruits of the world reconfigured through Trayte’s very particular vision.

Once cast in bronze or cut in aluminium the work is covered in meticulously painted layers. The various forms accumulating glossy, synthetic ‘skins’ that gives the work a chameleon appearance.   Voluptuous supine forms are highly polished, flirtatious pastries dusted and meat gold plated.

There is an alluring expectation that the works are entirely edible — standing magnificent and majestic, ready for the taking. A combination of synthetic superficiality co-existing with the organic, irregular shapes of the natural world gives Trayte’s work a sense of intrigue.

Trayte graduated from the Royal Academy in 2010.  Recent exhibitions include Franks-Suss Collection, Saatchi Gallery, 2010; Royal Academy Schools Show & Royal Academy Summer Show, 2010; Modern Love, Simon Oldfield Gallery, 2010; Bloomberg New Contemporaries, 2009.  Jonathan’s work is held in important UK and international collections.

A book has been published to accompany the exhibition.

Please contact Simon Oldfield for images, interviews or further information: email hidden; JavaScript is required/ +44(0)7970 719692