Kristian Thomas MUMFORD

Kristian Thomas MUMFORD

Kristian Mumford was born in country South Australia in a coastal environment to an artistic and agricultural family. There, he experienced a magical childhood.

Mumford emerged as an audio visual artist and musician in the mid 1990s. It wasn't until 2008 of his career, he held solo exhibitions of paintings in Melbourne and Adelaide and represented works in state and regional prizes, to include finalist in the Hans Hysen prize, in 2009.

In his practice, Kristian Mumford has developed themes for two distinct and unique styles of painting; the female portrait and the romanticism series.In the works based on romanticism, impressions of the joy and love are ever-present. The compositions are reminiscent of bygone days and loaded with sweet nothings, goddess's and adventure. As seen in recent paintings of summer romances, the artist reveals a playful inquisitiveness that tells the stories of man and women.
In the portrait series, Mumford mostly explores the female figure. Commonly, the paintings are life size poses, sometimes of models from fashion and film. The portraits are commanding and seductive, the females attractive and bare breasted. However diverse in his subject matter, Mumfords work is enduringly figurative, daringly coloured and executed with a fine intention reminiscent of William Bougeureau's Art from the 1860s. This can be seen in the layering of soft colour, traditional brushwork and strong underpainting. Mumford states that he is inspired by many masters work, but only after starting.

Kristian describes the creation of his work as a meditative level, always manifested by his feelings in relation to music, silence, poetry, colour and maya.
Philosophy
‘I like to make pieces that last a lifetime, paintings and gardens that employ meticulous craftsmanship, artistry and finish in their construction.’ Kristian Mumford