Artist Database

Philip Barlow, born in 1968 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, is known for his dreamlike, abstract figurative oil paintings that mimic the blurred "bokeh" effect of photography. He earned a Diploma in Graphic Fine Art from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in 1990, focusing on printing, stained glass, and photography. Barlow captures scenes with a camera before translating them into soft, luminous canvases where light is both subject and metaphor. His distinctive style blurs the line between the physical and spiritual, often depicting city lights or sunlit beaches with radiant, simplified forms. Barlow has exhibited internationally and is featured in notable collections, such as Bowman Gilfillan in Johannesburg and Nando's in London.