John Moores Painting Prize winner returns to Walker Art Gallery with new exhibition

Walker Art Gallery is set to present Graham Crowley: I Paint Shadows, a new exhibition of works by Graham Crowley, winner of the 2023 John Moores Painting Prize.

Opening 14 March 2025, Graham Crowley: I Paint Shadows offers visitors unprecedented insight into Crowley’s distinctive exploration of light and shadow through painting. 

The exhibition marks a significant return to Walker Art Gallery for Crowley, who first entered the John Moores Painting Prize in 1976. Nearly five decades later, his 2023 Prize-winning painting ‘Light Industry’—now part of the gallery’s permanent collection—serves as a cornerstone for this comprehensive showcase of new works. 

Through his signature style, Crowley investigates what he terms ‘sites of creativity’, from gardens to workplaces, using varied brushwork to create images that appear simultaneously familiar yet disrupted. His tonal approach builds layers of meaning, challenging viewers’ perceptions of everyday scenes through masterful manipulation of light and shadow. 

Graham Crowley said:

“I paint shadows. Light fascinates me, and that involves not just shadows but reflections. Whilst they’re collectively ubiquitous, they’re essentially intangible and illusory. It’s their indeterminate nature that appeals and makes them an appropriate subject for painting. 

“It’s also these properties that make them analogous to painting. Light is a metaphor for life. I find my subject wherever there’s light. The equivalent of light in painting is luminosity. I paint what are familiar ‘sites of creativity’. This ranges from the garden to the workplace. But irrespective of subject matter the content is invariably light.” 

Charlotte Keenan, Head of Walker Art Gallery, said:

“Graham Crowley’s return to Walker Art Gallery represents a remarkable full-circle moment. From his first entering John Moores Painting Prize in 1976 to winning the first prize in 2023, his artistic journey embodies the enduring significance of painting in contemporary art. 

“I Paint Shadows offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience how Graham transforms everyday scenes through his masterful understanding of light and shadow. This exhibition not only celebrates his contribution to British painting but also demonstrates the Walker’s ongoing commitment to showcasing the evolution of contemporary artists.” 

The chance to exhibit at Walker Art Gallery was part of Crowley’s prize for winning the 2023 John Moores Painting Prize, and this solo show coincides with the preparations for the 2025 edition of the Prize, which will mark the competition’s 68th year of celebrating contemporary British painting.  

Call for entries for John Moores Painting Prize 2025 will open on Monday 17 February 2025, and close on Monday 24 March 2025. 

Graham Crowley: I Paint Shadows opens on 14 March 2025 and runs until 13 July 2025. 

Admission is free, with all donations welcome. 

For more info on Graham Crowley: I Paint Shadows click here.

For the latest news in Liverpool click here.