Earlier this month, Banksy unveiled a new mural in London: a solitary black lighthouse painted onto a residential building, its beam cleverly cast by a nearby streetlamp. Faintly lit within the glow are the words, “I want to be what you saw in me.”

As with most of his work, it appeared without warning and already feels permanent. It’s delicate, poetic, and quietly loaded, a piece that doesn’t shout to be noticed but lingers once it is.

A NAME ON THE RISE: CRIATURA

One artist pushing this conversation forward is Criatura, whose work we are proud to represent at Waran’s Fine Art.

His paintings, defined by surreal tentacled forms, high-contrast palettes, and psychological depth, offer something more than aesthetic. They present a confrontation. A questioning of space, identity, and what does not quite belong. The influence of graffiti is present, but refracted through a different lens, one informed by symbolism, surrealism, and digital culture.

Criatura has shown at Frieze London, Tate Modern, and Art Basel Miami. What is coming next will mark a new chapter. He is an artist we have believed in for some time, and the momentum building around his practice reflects that.

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Last week, we marked a defining moment for Waran’s Fine Art with the launch of our brand-new gallery on Fulham Road in Chelsea. It was an evening to remember, filled with energy, creativity, and celebration as over 140 guests joined us to witness the next chapter in our journey.

To mark the occasion, we unveiled The Billionaires Series by Mr. Controversial, a daring new body of work that explores the dark side of ambition, wealth, and power. The artist was in attendance to introduce his latest pieces, sharing personal insights into the series that sparked intrigue and conversation throughout the night.

The experience went beyond the walls of the exhibition. Guests enjoyed on-theme signature cocktails including the Billionaire Margarita and A Controversial Sour, along with curated canapés served all evening. Live music from our in-house DJ set the tone for a vibrant night of art, connection, and celebration.

With familiar faces, collectors, creatives, and members of our board all under one roof, the launch event captured exactly what Waran’s Fine Art stands for – making contemporary art engaging, accessible, and unforgettable.

Our Chelsea gallery is now open for private viewings by appointment until 18th June 2025. We look forward to welcoming you in.

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On 16th May, Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in New York realised an impressive $186.1 million, underscoring continued strength at the top end of the contemporary art market.

Among the evening’s most notable moments were three standout works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, which sparked competitive bidding and reaffirmed his status as a key figure in modern collecting.

Here are the Basquiat highlights from the evening (All prices in USD) :

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Unhinged, 2023
MR. CONTROVERSIAL

We are thrilled to highlight a recent achievement from our collection: a successful auction at Sworders, where a remarkable piece by the acclaimed contemporary artist Mr. Controversial was sold.

The piece by Mr. Controversial recently sold at auction for £14,000 delivering +40% return on investment for our client. The artwork, known for its bold statement and design had generated considerable interest among collectors, contributing to its strong performance at auction.

Watch the auction here

This Time Next Year...
MR. CONTROVERSIAL

The piece recently sold at auction for £7,500. This sale marks a significant achievement, as it delivered a remarkable 50% return on investment for our client.

This sale not only underscores the increasing value of contemporary art but also highlights our commitment to maximising returns for our clients.

Watch the auction here

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David Hockney, one of the most influential British artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, has captivated audiences with his vibrant explorations of space, perception, and technology. Rising to fame in the 1960s, Hockney is known for his bold use of colour and unique techniques. His time in California and interest in new technologies have heavily influenced his distinctive style, which continues to connect deeply with human experiences and the evolving landscape of the modern world. In this article we explore Hockney’s top three most influential artworks.

A Bigger Splash (1967)

 

Perhaps Hockney’s most iconic pieces, this large-scale painting captures the moment a splash disrupts the serene surface of a Californian swimming pool. The composition features clean lines and vibrant colours, emphasising the stark contrast between the tranquil environment and the dynamic splash.

The painting reflects the fleeting moments of everyday life and the artist’s fascination with capturing motion. Hockney’s meticulous brushwork and simplified forms create an image that invites viewers to contemplate the intersection of stillness and movement. He spent about two weeks painting the splash, capturing a moment that lasts mere seconds in real life​.

 

Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) (1972)

This painting depicts a man swimming underwater while another man, fully dressed, watches from the pool’s edge. The scene is set against a lush, mountainous backdrop, with the clear blue water providing a focal point.

The artwork explores themes of observation, relationships, and the complexities of human interactions. Hockney’s meticulous attention to detail and his ability to capture light and reflection make this piece a standout. The juxtaposition of the two figures—one submerged, one observing—creates a narrative tension that engages viewers on multiple levels. This work, is a testament to Hockney’s skill in combining technical precision with emotional depth​.

 

Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy (1971)

This piece is widely regarded as one of Hockney’s most important and personal works. This painting depicts the artist’s friends, fashion designer Ossie Clark and textile designer Celia Birtwell, shortly after their wedding, with their cat, Percy, sitting on Clark’s lap. Set in their flat in Notting Hill, the composition features Birtwell standing with a faint smile and Clark lounging in a chair, both looking directly at the viewer.

The painting is rich in symbolism and personal significance. The lilies next to Birtwell symbolise purity, hinting at her pregnancy at the time. The positioning of the figures and the cat’s presence add layers of meaning, from the complexities of their relationship to broader themes of fidelity and human connection. The work is noted for its detailed naturalism and balanced composition, making it a memorable piece in Hockney’s oeuvre​.

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We sat down with Mr. Controversial to find out what inspired his artistic journey. Here’s what he had to say about his path to becoming an artist and the motivations behind his creative process.

Can you tell us about your journey as an artist and what inspired you to start creating art?

I’ve always been creative and entrepreneurial, a combination that led me to a career in advertising and marketing agencies. For years, I was the one selling big brand concepts and campaigns to C-suite executives, getting them excited about campaigns worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Yet, despite my enthusiasm and hard work, I was never trusted to deliver these projects. I’d hand them over to someone else which was soul-destroying.

After a few jobs and a growing sense of discontent, I reached a breaking point. Feeling fed up and disheartened, I decided to take control of my life. I wanted to create something tangible, something that combined my skills in visual communication, my passion for human behaviour and psychology, and my advertising experience. With no more than a month of rent in the bank and having just been made redundant, I took the plunge.

I started painting a few things, testing the waters, and even sold a couple of pieces through Instagram. It seemed like a fun side hustle, but I wondered if it could ever become something more. The day I got made redundant, with almost no money or resources, I had a firm conversation with myself; This had to be a turning point! I decided to take my destiny into my own hands and to live a more creative life, making things with my hands that evoke real emotions in people with my art.

In a moment of desperation and inspiration, I googled local galleries and the first one I walked into immediately inspired me, as I realised that I could see my work on those walls. It was just about fine-tuning my creative process, closing the skills gap, connecting with the right people and building a solid collector base who’d love my work and shout about it. I began to understand the processes needed for my growth and began to reverse engineer the successes of Artists I admired. However, I’d have to do it with no money, no resources, no connections and without a fancy art degree. I resolved to leverage all my skills and experience from my advertising background to build an exciting and disruptive brand so I could carve out a career in the art world.

Slowly, I started gaining a following, targeting and attracting the right collectors. Word spread, and galleries and publishers began reaching out. Today, I’ve worked with about 15 independent fine art galleries, three publishers, and a few art advisors. I’ve put on multiple exhibitions and buzzing shows and have sold nearly everything I have ever produced. I run everything from my West London studio with a small production team, keeping operations tight. The journey from painting in a spare room (which doubled as an office and wardrobe) to running a successful creative studio has been incredible. It’s no longer just me dicking about with a paint brush, I have in effect become my own publisher, creative studio and fine art production house.

I like to keep it real, that’s why relatability is the foundation of any creation I produce. My work is a satirical commentary on the way we live our lives, each piece is riddled with truisms. It’s  Inspired by human behaviour and psychology all packaged up in witty captions (and sometimes characters) and produced in rich, textured oil paints and intricate multi-layered silkscreens. I take inspiration from my own rollercoaster life experience, the conversations I overhear, the behaviour I see and also my entrepreneurial journey in a way viewers can relate to and identify with. 

I aim to explore and unearth our inner subconscious thoughts which we are often too afraid to voice out of a fear of being judged or expelled from the group. In a world where toxic hustle culture prevails and Entrepreneurship is as easy as turning on your laptop and making £1,000 per day, one of my XXL canvases says; “Entrepreneur: powered by caffeine, stress, and a crippling fear of failure.” It’s relatable to every small business owner or aspirational person trying to step out of their comfort zone but also quite cathartic for me.

I love what I do but this isn’t just a fun job; it’s a daily battle; wrestling with concepts, business deals and sometimes destroying work I’ve spent hours on. From dealing with cash flow issues, meeting tight deadlines, and keeping the business afloat whilst growing at a rapid rate and maintaining everything that makes the brand exciting and disruptive. I take this very seriously and I put everything I have into this to make it a success… it seems to be working thank God. This theme of entrepreneurialism, ambition, and dream chasing is evident throughout my work and those who are chasing their own dreams find that it resonates with them and they buy it – figuratively and literally.

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