Photo Upfest, 2022.

Ant Carver (b.1991) is a London-based figurative painter currently working from his studio in Hackney Wick. Using oil paint, charcoal or etchings he creates intimate small-scale portraits and striking large-scale pieces.

Often deeply personal, and shaped by a fascination with the balance of process and narrative, Carver’s work explores themes of grief, loss, and human connection. Through both monochromatic and vividly coloured figures, he incorporates symbolism to reflect on relationships, vulnerability, and the complexities of life. His latest work examines the role of found imagery and how we consume visual information in modern society. With an endless stream of images—whether positive or negative—delivered through the same sources at any moment, his paintings investigate how this constant exposure shapes our perceptions, emotions, and interactions with the world. Carver’s paintings merge realism with expressive abstraction, layering precise detail with gestural marks, sketched elements, and bold textures.

His interest in art originated from a passion for street art and graffiti. His paintings draw eclectic inspiration from artists such as Rembrandt, Conor Harrington, Jenny Saville and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.