Alessandro Raho
Sussex Spotlight - Free entry
This inaugural Sussex Spotlight exhibition traces the evolving practice of Alessandro Raho.
Alessandro Raho (b. Nassau, 1971) is an artist whose work navigates the delicate interplay of presence and absence, past and present, and the quiet poetry found in everyday life.
Raho is known for his intimate, pared down portraits, such as those of Dame Judi Dench in the National Portrait Gallery, or Bryan Ferry: solitary figures, frontally posed, set against a clean, white backdrop. His fascination with the stuff of paint, its surface and texture, results in a hard-won, subtle luminescence, while the white backgrounds erase context, suspending the figures in a timeless space where their presence feels both vivid and slightly abstract.
In more recent years, Raho has expanded his focus to still life, turning his attention to everyday objects and exploring how something artificial or staged can carry an emotional charge. Whether painting a portrait, a vase of flowers, or a magic box, Raho explores how images can both connect and isolate us – being at once powerfully human and intimately nostalgic, looking back while pulling us forward into the future.
Sussex Spotlight is a new series which celebrates the vibrant creativity of local artists and the rich cultural landscape of our region. Hosted in our public galleries, the initiative provides a platform for both emerging and established talent.
Sussex Spotlight programme supported by David and Sarah Kowitz.
Image: Alessandro Raho, Magic Box and Mickey, 2020 © Alessandro Raho. Todd White Art Photography.
