Crayon on paper

21 × 14 cm. 8 1/4 × 5 1/2 in.

PROVENANCE
L21 Gallery, Mallorca, Spain
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the above

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by L21 Gallery, Mallorca, Spain, and signed by the artist

Innocent Face, Born in the Sunshine
Felix Treadwell's Little Boy

Felix Treadwell, a British artist born in the 90s, was heavily influenced by Japanese anime from a young age, leading him to pursue art. After obtaining a Master's degree in painting from the Royal College of Art in London in 2018, he left his hometown to study abroad at Kyoto Seika University in Japan, where he was exposed to the quirky characters created by contemporary Japanese artists such as Yoshitomo Nara. Inspired by this experience, he merged Eastern and Western cartoon cultures to create his own distinctive childlike characters, gaining recognition in the art world. He won the Hix Award in the UK in 2014 and has held solo exhibitions in London, Los Angeles, Taipei, and other places in recent years.

His iconic characters with brown hair and triangle-shaped noses can be traced back to a boy featured in a promotional poster he created for an exhibition in Italy in 2019. Since then, these stylized children have become his most recognizable elements. In 2021, he showcased a collection of small cartoon paintings with self-referential nature on his personal Instagram, captioning them as "Different Me". These adorable miniature side profiles capture the appearance of the protagonist in different locations, resembling doors to parallel universes. One of these works, Untitled, is featured in this autumn auction.

In this piece, Felix Treadwell uses oil pastels and a childlike, clumsy stroke to depict the side profile of the main character. The skin and hair are rendered in flat flesh and brown colours respectively, while the exaggerated large eyes stand out in black and white, filled with curiosity and anticipation as they gaze ahead. The iconic cartoon-style red triangular nose adds a touch of playfulness, while the soft cream-green clothes and the gentle mauve blue background give the artwork a tender and innocent atmosphere. This relaxed and warm portrait reflects the artist's abundant passion and expectations for life during his youth, as he says, "I want to try everything and remain open to everything." Through returning to simplicity, Felix Treadwell showcases a beautiful dream of being born in the sunshine. "I wish to bring more positive and optimistic emotions to this increasingly sad world through my art, illuminating the world with optimism" he says, and using the courageous children in his artworks to light up the world.

Price estimate:
HKD 8,000 – 12,000
USD 1,000 – 1,500