A college lecturer has been asked to exhibit at the prestigious Mall Galleries in London’s Pall Mall for the second time in less than a year.
Frank To is famed for his unique gunpowder art, which is created using the gunpowder recovered from illegal firearms.
To’s work is gaining international recognition after selling all his work in the Royal Society of British Artists exhibition in March 2022. New York-based collector Michel Witmer investing in some of the Inverness-based artist’s paintings to be displayed alongside his collection of Picasso, Dine and Warhol pieces.
Actor Sir Patrick Stewart, who plays Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek is also reportedly a fan of To’s work.
To said: “To be honest, the new work is a direct reflection of where my mindset and career is at.
“If you think about it, two years ago we just entered a global lockdown due to the pandemic. Now whilst most artists would buckle down for the storm, I was in my flat, experimenting relentlessly with new methods and techniques.
“I am continuously pushing the boundaries out there in the art world on contemporary art. I want to show what I teach is what I do, and this inspires my students who are the next upcoming generation of Scottish contemporary artists.
“I am very honoured to be accepted in this year’s Society of Graphic Fine Art annual exhibition. I will be showing next to contemporaries and peers who I strongly admire.
“Furthermore, I am humbled to be given an opportunity to show again this year in the Mall Galleries at the Royal Pall Mall in Central London in less than six months.
“It’s quite a rare thing as few Scottish artists achieve this in less than a year.”
Since 1919 the Society of Fine Art promotes fine drawing skills in both traditional and contemporary media. To’s coloured gunpowder work will be on show at the Society of Graphic Fine Art Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD from May 17 to May 21, 2022.
