Neil Raitt’s paintings are compositions of endlessly repeated cabins, mountains, ponds, trees and other natural motifs. Exploring the idea of repetition itself as a form of abstraction, Raitt’s work addresses landscape painting and the accessibility of its figurative form. With gestures adopted from Bob Ross’ television program The Joy of Painting, Raitt utilizes identifiable imagery in his intricate patterns that suspend the atmospheric effect of landscape and its illusion of space, dispersing any sense of perspective. His labyrinthine patterning and ceaseless repetition suggest the imagery upon the canvas as a limitless flat patchwork that stretches into infinity. While Raitt’s work implies an accelerated machine-like production process, his work is borne of time-consuming and heavily labored oil painting. Raitt’s technical skill in painting modernizes the traditional landscape, deconstructing its figurative language with an approach that is neither wholly kitsch nor fully abstracted.
EXHIBITIONS
Misty Rock, September 9 – October 21, 2017
Happy Painting, April 18 – May 30, 2015
Neil Raitt
- 1986
- Born in Leicester, UK
- Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA
Education
- 2013
- MA Painting, Royal College of Art
- 2009
- BA (Hons) Degree Fine Art, Norwich University College of the Arts
Solo Exhibitions
- 2018
- Imitation Sand, Galerie Chez Valentin, Paris, FR
- 2017
- Misty Rock, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2016
- SUNDAY Art Fair, with Anat Ebgi, London UK
- Chasing Bridges, The Cabin, Los Angeles, CA
- Landscapetual, Mon Chéri Gallery, Brussels, BE
- Fantasy Traveller, Nicelle Beauchene, New York, NY
- 2015
- Happy Painting, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2014
- CABINECTOMY, Goss-Michael Foundation Residency, Dallas, TX
- Catlin Art Prize, Londonewcastle Project Space, London, UK
Group Exhibitions
- 2018
- Art Toronto, with Anat Ebgi, Toronto, CA
- Mythologies of a Sublime, Pedro Cera Gallery, Lisbon, PT
- Sky Above Clouds, Darrow Contemporary, Aspen, CO
- DPAM Collects: Happy Little Trees and Other Recent Acquisitions, DePaul Art Museum, Chicago, IL
- As You Like It, Praz-Delavellade, Los Angeles, CA
- The Armory, with Anat Ebgi, New York, NY
- Art Los Angeles Contemporary, with Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2017
- Small Enough to Keep Me Happy, Big Enough To Keep Me Occupied. Curated by Jon Pilkington, Eighteen Gallery, Copenhagen, DK
- Coquet Mais Pas Trop, Centre d’art contemporain La Halle des bouchers, Vienne, FR
- First Star, Last Snowflake, curated by Garance Chabert, Villa Du Parc centre d’art contemporain, Annemasse, FR
- Currents, Lin & Lin Gallery, Tai Pei, Taiwan
- Art Los Angeles Contemporary, with Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2016
- Divers, Galerie Chez Valentin, Paris, FR
- EXPO Chicago, with Anat Ebgi, Chicago, IL
- miart, with Anat Ebgi, Milan, IT
- Neil Raitt, Joshua Sex and Alfred Wallis, Brendan Lynch’s Porch Museum, New York, NY
- The Hermits’ Cave, with Joshua Sex, theporchmuseum, New York, NY
- 2015
- POST-ANALOG PAINTING, The Hole, New York, NY
- Art Los Angeles Contemporary, with Anat Ebgi, Santa Monica, CA
- 2014
- Jack, Neil, Shane, Gareth and Matthew, Choi & Lager, Cologne, DE
- Re-Define, Group show & Charity Auction, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
- Morphol Scowl, Piccadilly Place, Manchester, UK
- The Back of Beyond: Neil Raitt, Adam Bainbridge & Sam Irons, Hus Gallery, London, UK
- London Art Fair: Art Projects, with The Catlin Guide, London, UK
- 2013
- Painting Show and Performances, organized by Mathis Gasser, Winter Projects, London, UK
- Buddy System Invitational, Breeze Block Gallery, Portland, OR
- SHOW RCA, Royal College of Art, London, UK
- SATELIKE, Departure Foundation, London, UK
- Spooky Action, Blyth Gallery, London, UK
- Form From Form, Matthews Yard, Greater London, UK
- Near That Place, with Freya Douglas-Morris and Nicholas Johnson, Hockney Gallery, RCA, London, UK
- 2012
- Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK
- Painting Summer Show, 15 Howie Street, London, UK
- DRUMM, Queen of Hoxton, London, UK
- Young Master’s Exhibition and Auction, Rupert Cavendish, London, UK
- WIP, Royal College of Art, London, UK
- 2011
- Time and Travel, Ku’ Damm 101, Berlin, DE
- RCA Secret, Royal College of Art, London, UK
- Summer In The City, Ben Uri Gallery, London, UK
- At Play 3, South Hill Park, Berkshire, UK
- Somewhere, KT Contemporary, Dublin, IE
- 2010
- Artist’s Advent Window, Wolf & Badger, London, UK
- Ishihara 13, The Book Club, London, UK
- Open, Open!, Swiss Cottage Library, London, UK
- 2009
- Hans Brinker Budget Trophy, Hans Brinker Hotel, Amsterdam, NL
- Open 21, The City Gallery, Leicester, UK
- Intern Show, Salem Art Works, New York, NY
- Degree Show, Norwich University of The Arts, Norwich, UK
Collections
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
- Cedars-Sinai Collection, Los Angeles, CA
- DePaul Art Museum, Chicago
- The Saatchi Collection, London
- The Franks-Suss Collection, London
Prizes and Awards
- 2016
- Northern Trust Purchase Prize
- 2014
- The Catlin Art Prize
- 2013
- Artist in residence, Martini Arte Internazionale, Turin, Italy (July – September 2013)
- 2009
- The Attenborough Prize
- 2008
- Hans Brinker Budget Trophy
Publications
- 2017
- Neil Raitt. Los Angeles: Anat Ebgi Gallery, 2017. With texts by Ansel Krut, Lxo Cohen, and an interview with Lauren Bergman.
Press
- 2018
- Kelly Crow, "A Renaissance for Bob Ross: Fans Want the ‘Joy of Painting’ Host to Have a Spot in Art History," Wall Street Journal, August 21, 2018.
- Alexxa Gotthardt, "How Bob Ross Became Everyone’s Favorite Art Teacher," Artsy, February 15, 2018. (Link)
- "‘Imitation Sand’ by Neil Raitt at Valentin, Paris," OFluxo, February 13, 2018. (Link)
- "Neil Raitt at Valentin, Paris," Cura Magazine, February 10, 2018.
- "Imitation Sand," Paris Art, February 8, 2018.
- 2017
- Edward Goldman, “Neil Raitt,” Art Talk, KCRW, 89.9, Los Angeles, CA, October 24, 2017.
- Edward Goldman, “Sizzling Weather, Cool Art,” Huffington Post, October 24, 2017. (Link)
- Annabel Osberg, “Neil Raitt,” Artillery Magazine, September 21, 2017. (Link)
- 2016
- Jennifer S. Li, “Neil Raitt at The Cabin,” Art in America, November 2016.
- Kenny Schachter, “Kenny Schachter Comes Out to Play at Frieze London,” artnet, October 11, 2016.
- Andrew M. Goldstein, “5 Artists to Watch at the Sunday Art Fair 2016,” Artspace, October 7, 2016.
- Rachel Spence, “Frieze satellite fairs: Sunday, Moniker, The Other Art Fair – review,” The Financial Times, October 8, 2016.
- Emily Steer, “Sunday Art Fair: Gallery Picks,” Elephant Magazine, October 6, 2016.
- Hannah Hayes-Westall, “Top 6 artists at Sunday art fair,” FAD Magazine, October 6, 2016.
- Nate Freeman, “Sunday, the Young Fair in London During Frieze, Opens with Solid Sales, Chill Vibes,” Artnews, October 6, 2016.
- “Neil Raitt Exhibition at MonCheri, Brussels,” Purple Magazine, June 28, 2016.
- Federica Tattoli, “Interview with Neil Raitt,” Fruit of the Forest, April 2016.
- Federica Tattoli, “Anat Ebgi at miart 2016,” Fruit of the Forest, April 2016.
- 2015
- Harriet Thorpe, “INTERVIEW: Catching up with Neil Raitt,” FAD Magazine, August 6, 2015.
- Domenico de Chirico, “Happy Painting, Anat Ebgi,” Aujourd’hui, May 9, 2015.
- 2014
- “Q&A with Neil Raitt,” MTV Redefine Blog, November 2014.
- “Neil Raitt: CABINECTOMY,” Glasstire, October 22, 2014.
- “Five young artists to look out for,” Artfund, May 14, 2014.
- Harriet Thorpe, “INTERVIEW: Neil Raitt by Harriet Thorpe Caitlin Art Prize #7,” FAD Magazine, May 1, 2014.
- 2013
- Emily Beber, “Art: Neil Raitt’s hypnotic landscapes will mess with your mind,” It’s Nice That, August 28, 2013.
Desert Haze (Emerald Lake 240 edit), 2018
Oil and acrylic on canvas
94.5 x 71 inch
Purple Valley, 2018
Acrylic and oil on canvas
39 x 28 inch
Emerald Lake (Rowboat On the Beach), 2018
Oil on canvas
20 x 16 inch
Icecap Mountain (Yucca Valley 180 edit), 2018
Oil on canvas
70 x 48 inches
Desert Haze (Jerry), 2018
Oil on canvas
39 x 28 inches
Violet Foothills (Birch Cross), 2017
Oil on canvas
39 x 28 inches
Genesis Sunset (Dragon), 2017
Oil and acrylic on canvas
213.4 x 141.6 cm
Mountain Valley (Blue Veneer), 2017
Oil and acrylic on canvas
213.4 x 141.6 cm
Birch Fade (Violet Centre), 2017
Oil and acrylic on canvas
180 × 120 cm
Misty Mountain Glow (Alaska swirl), 2016
Oil on canvas
180 × 120 cm
Crinkle-Cut Mountain (Peach Centre), 2017
Oil and acrylic on canvas
140 x 100 cm
Birch Mountain (Veneer Centre) , 2017
Oil and acrylic on canvas
140 x 100 cm
Between Rivers, 2016
Oil and acrylic on canvas
50 x 40 cm
Topanga Swirl (140 edit), 2016
Oil on canvas
140 x 100 cm
Emerald Waters (Esmund), 2016
Oil and acrylic on canvas
140 x 100 cm
Mountain Waterfall (Cactus Re-edit), 2016
Oil and acrylic on canvas
140 x 100 cm
Graceful Mountains, 2015
Oil on canvas
140 x 100 cm
55 x 39 in
Graceful Mountains (Detail), 2015
Oil on canvas
140 x 100 cm
55 x 39 in
Kaleidoscope Cabin, 2015
Oil on canvas
240 x 180 cm
94.5 x 71 in
Kaleidoscope Cabin (Detail), 2015
Oil on canvas
240 x 180 cm
94.5 x 71 in
Mountain Cabin (Indian Yellow), 2015
Oil on canvas
240 x 180 cm
94.5 x 71 in
Kaleidoscope Mountain, 2015
Oil on canvas
240 x 180 cm
94.5 x 71 in
Kaleidoscope Mountain (Detail), 2015
Oil on canvas
240 x 180 cm
94.5 x 71 in
Constantine Fade (Orange), 2015
Oil on canvas
140 x 100 cm
55 x 39 in
Constantine Fade (Orange) (Detail), 2015
Oil on canvas
140 x 100 cm
55 x 39 in
Constantine Fade (Green), 2015
Oil on canvas
140 x 100 cm
55 x 39 in
Windy Waves (Bodhi), 2015
Oil on canvas
140 x 100 cm
55 x 39 in
Windy Waves (Bodhi) (Detail), 2015
Oil on canvas
140 x 100 cm
55 x 39 in
Faded (Detail), 2015
Oil on canvas
94 1/2 x 70 9/10 inches
Faded, 2015
Oil on canvas
94 1/2 x 70 9/10 inches
Mountain Cabin (California Roll), 2014
Oil on canvas
55 x 39 inches
Happy Painting, Installation view, 2015
Happy Painting, Installation view, 2015
Happy Painting, Installation view, 2015
Happy Painting, Installation view, 2015
Happy Painting, Installation view, 2015
Happy Painting, Installation view, 2015
Cabinectomy (Fade), 2014
Oil on canvas
94.5 x 212.5 inches (240 x 540 inches
Magic Tree Yellow, 2014
Scented oil on foam with rope
71 x 47 inches (180 x 120 cm)
Untitled (Triple Fade, 2014
Oil on canvas
20 x 16 inches (50 x 40 cm)
Untitled (Triple Fade), 2014
Oil on canvas
20 x 16 inches (50 x 40 cm)
Fade (triptych), 2014
Oil on canvas
94.5 x 212.5 inches (240 x 540 cm)
Cabinectomy, 2014
Oil on canvas
71 x 47 inches (180 x 120cm)
Untitled (Island), 2014
Oil on canvas
20 x 16 inches (50 x 40 cm)
Evergreen, 2013
Oil on canvas
94.5 x 83 inches (240 x 210 cm)
Evergreen (Detail), 2013
Oil on canvas
94.5 x 83 inches (240 x 210 cm)
Alpine, 2013
Oil on canvas
94.5 x 71 inches (240 x 180cm)
BIOGRAPHY
Neil Raitt’s paintings are compositions of endlessly repeated cabins, mountains, ponds, trees and other natural motifs. Exploring the idea of repetition itself as a form of abstraction, Raitt’s work addresses landscape painting and the accessibility of its figurative form. With gestures adopted from Bob Ross’ television program The Joy of Painting, Raitt utilizes identifiable imagery in his intricate patterns that suspend the atmospheric effect of landscape and its illusion of space, dispersing any sense of perspective. His labyrinthine patterning and ceaseless repetition suggest the imagery upon the canvas as a limitless flat patchwork that stretches into infinity. While Raitt’s work implies an accelerated machine-like production process, his work is borne of time-consuming and heavily labored oil painting. Raitt’s technical skill in painting modernizes the traditional landscape, deconstructing its figurative language with an approach that is neither wholly kitsch nor fully abstracted.
EXHIBITIONS
Misty Rock, September 9 – October 21, 2017
Happy Painting, April 18 – May 30, 2015
CV
Neil Raitt
- 1986
- Born in Leicester, UK
- Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA
Education
- 2013
- MA Painting, Royal College of Art
- 2009
- BA (Hons) Degree Fine Art, Norwich University College of the Arts
Solo Exhibitions
- 2018
- Imitation Sand, Galerie Chez Valentin, Paris, FR
- 2017
- Misty Rock, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2016
- SUNDAY Art Fair, with Anat Ebgi, London UK
- Chasing Bridges, The Cabin, Los Angeles, CA
- Landscapetual, Mon Chéri Gallery, Brussels, BE
- Fantasy Traveller, Nicelle Beauchene, New York, NY
- 2015
- Happy Painting, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2014
- CABINECTOMY, Goss-Michael Foundation Residency, Dallas, TX
- Catlin Art Prize, Londonewcastle Project Space, London, UK
Group Exhibitions
- 2018
- Art Toronto, with Anat Ebgi, Toronto, CA
- Mythologies of a Sublime, Pedro Cera Gallery, Lisbon, PT
- Sky Above Clouds, Darrow Contemporary, Aspen, CO
- DPAM Collects: Happy Little Trees and Other Recent Acquisitions, DePaul Art Museum, Chicago, IL
- As You Like It, Praz-Delavellade, Los Angeles, CA
- The Armory, with Anat Ebgi, New York, NY
- Art Los Angeles Contemporary, with Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2017
- Small Enough to Keep Me Happy, Big Enough To Keep Me Occupied. Curated by Jon Pilkington, Eighteen Gallery, Copenhagen, DK
- Coquet Mais Pas Trop, Centre d’art contemporain La Halle des bouchers, Vienne, FR
- First Star, Last Snowflake, curated by Garance Chabert, Villa Du Parc centre d’art contemporain, Annemasse, FR
- Currents, Lin & Lin Gallery, Tai Pei, Taiwan
- Art Los Angeles Contemporary, with Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2016
- Divers, Galerie Chez Valentin, Paris, FR
- EXPO Chicago, with Anat Ebgi, Chicago, IL
- miart, with Anat Ebgi, Milan, IT
- Neil Raitt, Joshua Sex and Alfred Wallis, Brendan Lynch’s Porch Museum, New York, NY
- The Hermits’ Cave, with Joshua Sex, theporchmuseum, New York, NY
- 2015
- POST-ANALOG PAINTING, The Hole, New York, NY
- Art Los Angeles Contemporary, with Anat Ebgi, Santa Monica, CA
- 2014
- Jack, Neil, Shane, Gareth and Matthew, Choi & Lager, Cologne, DE
- Re-Define, Group show & Charity Auction, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
- Morphol Scowl, Piccadilly Place, Manchester, UK
- The Back of Beyond: Neil Raitt, Adam Bainbridge & Sam Irons, Hus Gallery, London, UK
- London Art Fair: Art Projects, with The Catlin Guide, London, UK
- 2013
- Painting Show and Performances, organized by Mathis Gasser, Winter Projects, London, UK
- Buddy System Invitational, Breeze Block Gallery, Portland, OR
- SHOW RCA, Royal College of Art, London, UK
- SATELIKE, Departure Foundation, London, UK
- Spooky Action, Blyth Gallery, London, UK
- Form From Form, Matthews Yard, Greater London, UK
- Near That Place, with Freya Douglas-Morris and Nicholas Johnson, Hockney Gallery, RCA, London, UK
- 2012
- Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK
- Painting Summer Show, 15 Howie Street, London, UK
- DRUMM, Queen of Hoxton, London, UK
- Young Master’s Exhibition and Auction, Rupert Cavendish, London, UK
- WIP, Royal College of Art, London, UK
- 2011
- Time and Travel, Ku’ Damm 101, Berlin, DE
- RCA Secret, Royal College of Art, London, UK
- Summer In The City, Ben Uri Gallery, London, UK
- At Play 3, South Hill Park, Berkshire, UK
- Somewhere, KT Contemporary, Dublin, IE
- 2010
- Artist’s Advent Window, Wolf & Badger, London, UK
- Ishihara 13, The Book Club, London, UK
- Open, Open!, Swiss Cottage Library, London, UK
- 2009
- Hans Brinker Budget Trophy, Hans Brinker Hotel, Amsterdam, NL
- Open 21, The City Gallery, Leicester, UK
- Intern Show, Salem Art Works, New York, NY
- Degree Show, Norwich University of The Arts, Norwich, UK
Collections
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
- Cedars-Sinai Collection, Los Angeles, CA
- DePaul Art Museum, Chicago
- The Saatchi Collection, London
- The Franks-Suss Collection, London
Prizes and Awards
- 2016
- Northern Trust Purchase Prize
- 2014
- The Catlin Art Prize
- 2013
- Artist in residence, Martini Arte Internazionale, Turin, Italy (July – September 2013)
- 2009
- The Attenborough Prize
- 2008
- Hans Brinker Budget Trophy
Publications
- 2017
- Neil Raitt. Los Angeles: Anat Ebgi Gallery, 2017. With texts by Ansel Krut, Lxo Cohen, and an interview with Lauren Bergman.
Press
- 2018
- Kelly Crow, "A Renaissance for Bob Ross: Fans Want the ‘Joy of Painting’ Host to Have a Spot in Art History," Wall Street Journal, August 21, 2018.
- Alexxa Gotthardt, "How Bob Ross Became Everyone’s Favorite Art Teacher," Artsy, February 15, 2018. (Link)
- "‘Imitation Sand’ by Neil Raitt at Valentin, Paris," OFluxo, February 13, 2018. (Link)
- "Neil Raitt at Valentin, Paris," Cura Magazine, February 10, 2018.
- "Imitation Sand," Paris Art, February 8, 2018.
- 2017
- Edward Goldman, “Neil Raitt,” Art Talk, KCRW, 89.9, Los Angeles, CA, October 24, 2017.
- Edward Goldman, “Sizzling Weather, Cool Art,” Huffington Post, October 24, 2017. (Link)
- Annabel Osberg, “Neil Raitt,” Artillery Magazine, September 21, 2017. (Link)
- 2016
- Jennifer S. Li, “Neil Raitt at The Cabin,” Art in America, November 2016.
- Kenny Schachter, “Kenny Schachter Comes Out to Play at Frieze London,” artnet, October 11, 2016.
- Andrew M. Goldstein, “5 Artists to Watch at the Sunday Art Fair 2016,” Artspace, October 7, 2016.
- Rachel Spence, “Frieze satellite fairs: Sunday, Moniker, The Other Art Fair – review,” The Financial Times, October 8, 2016.
- Emily Steer, “Sunday Art Fair: Gallery Picks,” Elephant Magazine, October 6, 2016.
- Hannah Hayes-Westall, “Top 6 artists at Sunday art fair,” FAD Magazine, October 6, 2016.
- Nate Freeman, “Sunday, the Young Fair in London During Frieze, Opens with Solid Sales, Chill Vibes,” Artnews, October 6, 2016.
- “Neil Raitt Exhibition at MonCheri, Brussels,” Purple Magazine, June 28, 2016.
- Federica Tattoli, “Interview with Neil Raitt,” Fruit of the Forest, April 2016.
- Federica Tattoli, “Anat Ebgi at miart 2016,” Fruit of the Forest, April 2016.
- 2015
- Harriet Thorpe, “INTERVIEW: Catching up with Neil Raitt,” FAD Magazine, August 6, 2015.
- Domenico de Chirico, “Happy Painting, Anat Ebgi,” Aujourd’hui, May 9, 2015.
- 2014
- “Q&A with Neil Raitt,” MTV Redefine Blog, November 2014.
- “Neil Raitt: CABINECTOMY,” Glasstire, October 22, 2014.
- “Five young artists to look out for,” Artfund, May 14, 2014.
- Harriet Thorpe, “INTERVIEW: Neil Raitt by Harriet Thorpe Caitlin Art Prize #7,” FAD Magazine, May 1, 2014.
- 2013
- Emily Beber, “Art: Neil Raitt’s hypnotic landscapes will mess with your mind,” It’s Nice That, August 28, 2013.