The contemporary artist captures a magical moment between His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his grandson.
John Charles is a contemporary artist based in the United Arab Emirates. Dubbed the ‘Scouse Van Gogh’ by his following, John is renowned for his bold use of vibrant colour, palette knife approach and signature gold lines. Taking inspiration from the community and environment around him, in addition to modern media and culture, John centralises his work on the things, people and places that impact him.
With collectors, celebrities and art lovers around the world proudly hanging John’s artwork in their homes, John continues to make an impact in the art world with his awe-inspiring collections, and his latest piece is no different.
Renowned for his portrait work, John has successfully explored abstract art, land and cityscapes to great acclaim. John takes his artistic influence from his favourite artists, Vincent Van Gogh and Jackson Pollock, although when it comes to painting, he likes to follow his own path with films, songs and people inspiring him to create stunning artwork.
His latest piece is a portrait of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with his grandson. The image was originally posted on His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Instagram account. In the post, the newborn Mohammed bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum is seen with his father and grandfather. The caption states: “May Allah protect them”.
John uses his bold and explosive style to recreate the moment in a portrait he has called Life. His instantly recognisable style uses intricate pallet knife work and is finished with his signature golden lines. The piece will be sold with 50 per cent of proceeds donated to Al Jalila Foundation, a global healthcare philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives. It was founded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai in April 2013, to position Dubai and the UAE at the forefront of medical innovation.
Al Jalila Foundation supports medical treatment for individuals unable to afford quality healthcare, provides scholarships to nurture home-grown medical professionals, and supports ground-breaking research that addresses health challenges prevalent in the region: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and mental health.
John has held hugely successful exhibitions in the UK and UAE with sold-out collections, limited edition prints and NFT drops. Last year, his Modern Poets collection brought rap legends, past and present, including 2Pac, Biggie Smalls, Ice Cube, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Slick Rick, to the City Walk.
DSCVR: Visit www.artistjohncharles.com for more information.
