Will Fice is a BA (Hons) 2020 graduate from Leeds Arts University. He is at the start of his career and this is his first exhibition since leaving college.

This group of fifteen new paintings explores the dilemma of the adolescent on the verge of adulthood. Young men, "awkwards", are captured in a metaphorical waiting room that rejects the child and beckons the man. Friendship, appearance, demeanour, ennui and everything unsaid are addressed from a male perspective. Being cool and never showing frailty are watch words.

Will’s source material is gathered from Instagram, chats with friends where photos have been exchanged, and his own experiences and observations. His deliberate use of a small canvas allows an intimacy of image that accentuates rather than diminishes the greater narrative. Drawing is important and strong outlines are used to emphasise individual figures. Colour too, applied as washed out or highly intense, helps to establish a sense of character for the viewer.

An essay by Will's course tutor at Leeds, Duncan Mosley accompanies this exhibition and the artist has created a short ‘selfie’ film made on his iPhone. Both are available to view on these pages.