Nick Coley
Nick Coley – Transforming Metal and Memory into Timeless Contemporary Art
Parcus Gallery proudly presents the work of Nick Coley, a distinctive figure in contemporary British art, whose practice fuses industrial materials with poetic depth. Originally from Stourbridge, Worcestershire, and now deeply connected to Yorkshire, Coley’s creative journey reflects a multifaceted life. With a background that spans business, literature, and even an appearance on the BBC’s Home Is Where the Art Is, his art reflects narrative richness and cross-disciplinary insight.
Coley’s transformation into a professional artist began with a moment of intuitive experimentation—when he first picked up a metal grinder to embellish a lantern. From this spark, he developed a signature technique: engraving aluminum with power tools, not to dismantle, but to create. His resulting artworks merge the rawness of metal with painterly subtlety, producing sculptural paintings that are tactile, radiant, and emotionally charged.
In parallel, Coley has pioneered a unique approach to painting behind glass and Perspex, a medium that infuses each composition with luminosity and dimensionality. These surfaces catch and refract light, resulting in works that seem to hover between presence and memory—inviting the viewer into immersive visual experiences.
At Parcus Gallery, you will encounter some of Coley’s most compelling pieces—such as Heaven’s Gate, Holy Spirit, and Bathers1—which reveal his fascination with figurative symbolism, movement, and the spiritual aspects of human life. His recurring motifs—bathers, riders, angels, troubadours—are rendered with a lyrical softness that contrasts beautifully with the strength of the materials used.
Photographs rarely do justice to his painted aluminum engravings or Perspex-layered mixed media artworks. These works must be experienced firsthand to fully appreciate their three-dimensional presence and the subtle interplay of color and texture. Each surface holds traces of physical labor—cutting, grinding, engraving—while offering viewers a sense of weightlessness, wonder, and emotional resonance.
Nick Coley’s presence at Parcus Gallery aligns with our mission to showcase bold, innovative voices in contemporary art. His artworks are increasingly sought after by collectors who value originality, technique, and emotional impact. Owning a piece by Nick Coley means investing in a collectible artwork that blends craftsmanship with storytelling—a luminous testament to artistic evolution.
- 13/06/2025
