Chris Gollon was one of the most singular and important British painters of his generation. A self-taught artist, he forged a unique path in the 1990s, an era dominated by the conceptual work of the Young British Artists. While the prevailing fashion was to declare painting "dead," Gollon committed himself to the medium, exploring the complexities of the human condition with raw empathy and technical brilliance. He first gained national attention as a finalist in The Spectator Prize in 1989 and went on to exhibit alongside international figures such as David Bowie, Yoko Ono, and Bill Viola. His posthumous reputation continues to grow, cemented by the 2024 feature documentary CHRIS GOLLON: 'Life in Paint, which affirms his story as a vital counter-narrative to the mainstream British art of his time.' Gollon’s distinct figurative style was built on innovative techniques, particularly with acrylic paint, which he manipulated with Old Master glazing methods and modern printmaking tools to achieve extraordinary depth and movement. His work was defined by a series of profound thematic explorations. He became renowned for his humanist reinterpretation of sacred art, most notably in the eight-year commission to create the Fourteen Stations of the Cross for Sir John Soane’s Grade-I listed church, St John on Bethnal Green. Perhaps his most ground breaking contribution was his career-long dialogue with music. This began in 1998 with an exhibition initiated by Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and evolved into direct collaborations with musicians like Eleanor McEvoy, where paintings inspired songs and lyrics inspired new images in a dynamic creative exchange. Chris Gollon’s legacy is that of an artist who championed painterly skill and emotional depth, creating a powerful and enduring body of work. His paintings are held in many prestigious public collections, including the British Museum, Huddersfield Art Gallery, the River & Rowing Museum, and Durham University, where he was a Fellow and Artist in Residence. From major religious commissions to works inspired by a Bob Dylan lyric, Gollon’s art consistently pushed boundaries, breathing new life into painting and securing his place as an established and increasingly celebrated name in modern British art.