Acerbic and irreverent, Sam Mitchell explores the tension between rebellion and propriety, transgression and etiquette- canaries swear like sailors and young boys and girls are coated in obscene tattoos.  Rigorous technique is combined with comic vignettes and prickly portraits from the inside out, undermining duplicitous social masks and exposing inner desires.  Mitchell was the 2010 Paramount winner of the Wallace Art Award and has exhibited extensively since 2000.

Image source:
SAM MITCHELL | Hair | 2012 | acrylic on Perspex | 400 x 300 mm | courtesy of Melanie Roger Gallery