Ian Wells

Blocked

April 4th – 26th, 2025

Each new work in Ian Wells’ latest exhibition continues his formal exploration of composition, surface, colour, and line. Opacity, interruption, and irregular colour remain key tools of investigation. The physical scale has expanded, and new techniques have been introduced—not in response to external chaos, but as part of an ongoing practice that remains distinct and self-contained despite the turbulence of the outside world.

The exhibition title, Blocked, refers both to the creative obstacles encountered during the making of these works and to the strong use of block-like forms, structures, and spatial tensions within the compositions. These paintings suggest a process of building and dismantling—some forms appear solid and precise, while others are interrupted, eroded, or obscured. The works do not seek to represent external narratives but instead function as explorations of balance, materiality, and the physical act of painting itself.

Wells’ practice is deeply rooted in both intuition and technical discipline. His work demonstrates an intimate engagement with traditional painterly methods, using hand-ground pigments, watercolour, oil paint, Indian ink, and metalpoint on carefully prepared surfaces. The proportions of his compositions are often based on root square or root cube ratios, reinforcing a sense of spatial structure and tension.

With a career spanning 35 years, Ian Wells has exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions, and his work is held in private collections. Five Walls Gallery began representing Ian Wells in March 2024.