David Freeman

David Freeman was born in Calcutta, India, in 1961 and moved to Britain in 1978. After graduating college in 1981, he established his own studio in London, where he spent several years working on commissions for books, magazines, posters, and greeting cards. Throughout this time, he continued developing his fine artwork, exploring various media including sculpture, before returning to his favorite subject: painting the human figure.
Freeman’s treatment of his subjects reveals a deep understanding of the classical realist tradition. His use of light and darkness echoes the Baroque chiaroscuro made famous by Rembrandt and Caravaggio, while his figures and faces possess a luminescence reminiscent of late Italian Renaissance masters. The iridescent skin tones he creates recall the works of Tintoretto.
The remarkable detail in Freeman’s paintings enhances the icon-like appearance of his figures, which seem frozen in time against his intricate patterned backgrounds. His colors are deeply rich, dark, and sumptuous, and his frequent use of gold leaf draws from the Byzantine tradition of decoration. Despite this classical approach, Freeman’s faces and figures communicate from an avant-garde perspective that references late 20th century figurative style. He is represented by Park West Gallery.