de PURY Presents, ‘Henry Hudson - Microcosm’ launched on 1 June - to September 10, 2021. London-based artist, Henry Hudson presents a new series of portraits, begun in 2019, of leading art world figures a.o. Ed Ruscha, Sean Scully, Mary McCartney, and Ai Weiwei.

Hudson (b. 1982) has long had a diverse practice, working across painting, sculpture, ceramics, installation and print-making. These new works represent how his practice extends into the digital realm using the iPad, scanners and UV printers to inform his contemporary portraiture. For the series, Hudson takes a photo and draws a portrait of his sitters on an iPad, which is then printed via a UV Flatbed printer on a selected medium tailored to the individual’s background.

‘Henry Hudson - Microcosm’ initially launched on Simon de Pury’s influential Instagram account, followed by an online viewing room on the de PURY website. Physical exhibitions are also staged in the artist’s studio by appointment. A limited number of exclusive new portrait commissions will be accepted following the series. There are also 30 limited edition prints available to purchase from the exhibition.

‘Artists used to go to court to paint the intellectual, noble, political, royal and those who influence and shape our world. Today with our iPhones and iPads I was able to go to some of the artists, dealers and collectors who shape our culture. Artists have painted other peoples portraits for centuries. What marks this body of work different to those in the past is the use of technology. This is in every aspect as contemporary a portraiture exhibition as you can get. The iPad portraits flat bed printed onto various materials fit in between the world of the NFTs and printmaking. There are very few ways to translate a digital painting or image into a physical unique one off art work or object. Traditionally due to the nature of a digital work it ends up as editions onto paper or tapestries. By using the UV flat bed printer I have been able to merge the digital onto a physical object making the portrait totally unique with no blockchain needed.’ - Henry Hudson