Art Review: Beautiful Chaos by Paul Wright
Beautiful Chaos - Oil on Other. Size: 130 W x 147 H x 3 D cm
Paul Wright’s Beautiful Chaos is a powerful, expressive reflection of both the artist’s technical prowess and his emotional depth. Painted in 2018, this oil on canvas piece captures the tumultuous, almost chaotic essence of the late Francis Bacon’s studio. It's not merely a physical space but a psychological landscape, rendered in Wright's signature bold, gestural strokes and rich, dynamic palette.
The artwork bursts with energy as swirls of colour and jagged brushwork depict a studio in disarray. Yet, as the title suggests, there is a certain beauty within the chaos—a sense of deliberate, if frenetic, order beneath the surface. Wright himself has explained the deliberate mess in Bacon's studio as a space that only the artist could truly navigate, where seemingly random elements could coexist meaningfully. The palette is intense, with splashes of neon hues clashing with dark tones, creating a sense of psychological turbulence. The portrait at the centre, blurred and obscured in parts, suggests the subject's elusive nature, reinforcing Wright’s philosophy of “glimpsing” rather than exposing his subjects.
This painting exemplifies Wright's ongoing exploration of human subjects, where the interior world is hinted at, never fully revealed. It’s this sense of ambiguity—both in the figure and the surrounding space—that invites the viewer into the emotional depth of the work. The studio, in all its wild, untidy glory, becomes a metaphor for the artist’s mind—an introspective landscape where emotions are fragmented and thoughts are as messy as the surrounding environment.
Wright’s approach to portraiture is influenced by Expressionism and the post-war figurative tradition, with echoes of artists like Lucian Freud and Willem de Kooning. However, what sets Wright apart is his refusal to settle for realism. Instead, he embraces abstraction, using thick, visible brushstrokes and layered textures to capture not just the external appearance but the inner vitality of his subjects. This piece, with its chaotic, abstract quality, manages to convey a deep intimacy, as if we are privy to a moment of personal, even vulnerable, reflection.
The artist’s choice to portray Bacon’s studio—an environment often associated with the rawness of creativity—aligns with Wright's own mission: to evoke the life and energy of a subject rather than simply replicate it. It’s a painting that invites contemplation on the nature of creation itself, offering a glimpse into a space where art and chaos coexist, transforming disorder into a potent visual experience.
In Beautiful Chaos, Paul Wright once again demonstrates his mastery of scale, texture, and colour, cementing his place as one of the UK's most exciting contemporary painters. This work not only reflects his fascination with portraiture but also serves as a vivid exploration of how space, memory, and identity can collide on the canvas. A magnificent testament to the power of chaos within creation.
The painting is available to buy.