Abstract art emerged in the early years of the twentieth century, at a moment when the artistic landscape was still anchored in Fauvism, Cubism, and figurative Expressionism. Yet something profound was shifting. Artists began to release themselves from the obligation to describe the visible world, instead embracing colour, line, and form as subjects in their own right. Representation gave way to sensation; depiction yielded to experience. What remained was the essential language of painting itself—pure, unburdened, and radical. This new visual freedom was pioneered by Wassily Kandinsky and soon became fertile ground for many of the most influential figures in modern art, including Pablo Picassoand Piet Mondrian, who each, in their own way, pushed painting beyond the limits of the visible.

Today, abstract art is not merely a chapter in art history—it is a cornerstone of the global market, accounting for approximately 20% of worldwide art sales. Its visual language has become inseparable from contemporary culture itself. The legacy of post-war abstraction continues to exert enormous influence, with artists such as Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning remaining enduring market pillars. Their works command sustained demand, prized not only for their historical importance but for their timeless ability to convey gesture, energy, and psychological depth.

Simon Kenny in his studio

Within this lineage, Simon Kenny occupies a distinctive and poetic position. His work has been described as “lyrical abstraction,” and he himself has been characterised as a “radical Turner,” invoking the atmospheric intensity of J. M. W. Turner while propelling it into a contemporary, almost cosmic dimension. Kenny’s celebrated “colour-burst” paintings have attracted an exceptional collector base, including Stephen Hawking, who remarked, “his work looks like everything about space I can’t explain.” It is precisely this openness—this absence of fixed narrative—that gives abstract art its enduring allure. Without prescription, the viewer becomes participant rather than observer, projecting meaning, memory, and emotion onto the surface. The result is an intensely personal connection, one that deepens over time.

Luke Maund opening his solo show 'Made by Human'

Now, a new generation of abstract painters is redefining the medium once again, driven by bold material experimentation and refined technical innovation. For discerning collectors, these artists represent not only compelling cultural voices but also significant opportunities for early acquisition. Among them, Luke Maund stands out as a distinctive presence. His paintings, characterised by their bold restraint and deliberate simplicity, create space rather than fill it. In doing so, they invite contemplation, dialogue, and interpretation—honouring abstraction’s original promise as a site of freedom, possibility, and infinite conversation.