Donald Locke at the Ikon Gallery

Hey Freddos, welcome back to another blog entry where I discuss one of the latest exhibitions I’ve been to this year. It really has been an inspiring 2026 so far.

I visited the Ikon Gallery to check out Resisted Forms, an incredible exhibition displaying the work of Donald Locke. His archive is extensive, consisting of paintings, ceramics, and mixed-media sculptures, which was right up my street. Although the themes in our work are entirely different, I felt drawn in which is largely due to the presence of texture throughout his pieces. We both work with darker colour palettes and rely on layering to achieve our desired look. Both his paintings and ceramic works embody these layering techniques, and I find that, as viewers, it’s this combination of varied layers and surface textures that our curious eyes are drawn to.

It’s this curiosity that allows you to see deeper within his work, they pull you in closer, inquisitive, only to reveal elements you wouldn’t otherwise notice. The exhibition covered two floors and included around eighty pieces. The first floor showcased his earlier works, while the upper floor presented his later pieces. Overall, the collection was top tier. Although I am primarily a painter, it’s my new found interest in ceramics that allows me to appreciate his work as a whole. That said, I’ve been a painter since day one, so I was instinctively drawn to his paintings.

My favourite painting in the collection was Plantation Scene 1. This piece is a great example of his layering technique, diluted acrylics in various browns and blacks, finished with a top layer of textured black paint. As your eye moves closer, you can see each individual layer through the gaps. I also like how he hasn’t fully covered the canvas, he’s used it almost like a tabletop, placing various elements onto it. You’ll find photographs of sculptures and people, both obvious and hidden beneath layers of paint, which only adds to your curiosity. His painting style is consistent throughout the years, and he has a real, recognisable technique that makes for a strong collection of work overall. I was really impressed.

Coming away from the exhibition, I felt inspired. I have always been interested in mixed media paintings, and now I guess I’m interested in mixed media ceramics too. Donald Locke had a deep understanding of how to layer and combine materials, implementing them successfully to depict the themes and topics he was passionate about. His work provoked a series of thoughts about how I could adapt my own approach to layering and incorporating other materials into my practice. I hope anyone who goes to see the show leaves feeling as inspired as I did.

The exhibition is on for another few weeks so be sure to go and see the collection for yourself. For more information you can visit the galleries website here.