Belfast-based Artist and Illustrator Ray (Francois Got Buffed or FGB for short) is the latest artist to exhibit at On the Square. It’s likely that you will have already seen his work – his pop-art inspired murals have brightened up many a street around Belfast, an instantly recognisable style that he has honed throughout his career.
From street art to cartoon-esque illustrations and prints, FGB has worked in a variety of mediums. His collection of ‘Oul Paintings’ is what really piqued our interest. Taking old, forgotten landscape oil paintings and reimagining them with colourful alien-like creatures to give them a new lease of life.
Ray’s work is a beautiful blend of the old and the new, merging classic art with modern creativity. By taking old oil paintings and adding their own touch, they have created a series of artwork that is both familiar and completely new. The landscapes, which were once barren and mundane, are now full of life and fantasy creatures, each painting telling its own unique story.
The Emporium is absolutely teeming with beautiful vintage paintings and we always love the idea of creatively finding new ways of being sustainable. Ray’s cheeky characters inhabiting these serious and moody landscapes are a really fun and unique style of artwork for your home. I can really imagine them as part of a colourful gallery wall, in a kid’s bedroom, or front and centre as a talking piece. We are very excited that that FGB agreed to not only exhibit his art here, but also collaborate by selecting a few paintings from our collection to create new pieces.
If you are looking for something truly unique and fun to adorn your walls, make sure to check out this artist’s work at On The Square Emporium.