For Manchester-based Tomas Gittins, artwork making is an act composed of intuition and intention in equal measure. Gittins is only one artist main the cost of a promising class of up-and-coming expertise within the UK – a cohort choosing a extra uncooked, unfiltered dialogue with the world at giant, usually going past the standard white-walled house and into on-the-ground pockets of tradition.
Solely six months in, 2025 has already been a banner 12 months for the Brazilian-English artist, locking in a variety of trend and inventive tasks underneath his belt. Now, the Poisonous Arts starlet is coming again collectively the gallery, this time, gearing as much as open Pursuit of Pleasure, his debut solo exhibition. Staged within the coronary heart of Soho, Gittins lands in London with a recent crop of his signature face work — all of which have offered out days earlier than opening doorways.
Alongside the works on view, Pursuit of Pleasure additionally marks his first step into footwear. In collaboration with Salomon Sportstyle, he brings a sketchbook twist to the traditional XT-6’s. With a duet of monochromatic characters stretched throughout the facet panels and stars that kiss the heel, the customized, one-of-one pair shall be given to a customer on June 6. Moreover, a particular, screen-printed Gore-Tex jacket shall be making an look, in addition to a 3 limited-edition t-shirt giveaway for the primary 100 guests.
Fairly than a closing cease, Gittins envisions his canvases as captures of feeling in-flux. “Each character I make is a mirrored image of these emotions trapped inside. Once I stroll away from a canvas, I do know a bit is completed once I have a look at it and it’s trying again at me,” he informed Hypeart. “I do artwork to make myself really feel complete.” Embarking on this new period and street to pleasure, the artist takes us alongside for the trip. Forward of the opening, Gittins walks us by way of pre-show feels, the ever-evolving UK artistic panorama and what it’s wish to be an artist on the rise. The exhibition shall be on view in London on June 6.
“My work evolve as folks — we’re all slowly simply coming into the ultimate picture of what we’d wish to be.”
Are you able to describe the origins of your mantra “The Pleasure Should Develop” and the way it knowledgeable the title of this primary solo, Pursuit of Pleasure?
I began with works on paper and would promote them for £30. It led me to make bigger items and over time, this growth of scale — and pleasure — gave me the boldness to work with canvases. “The Pleasure Should Develop” is about spreading the way it makes me really feel into the plenty after which constructing my pleasure by way of this ethos. This present can be a benchmark for me. It’s a technique to say, ‘That is what I’m.’ I really like what I do and to have the ability to share it — that’s my pursuit of pleasure and it’ll solely get larger.
That is additionally your first time designing footwear. How did this collaboration with Salomon come about? Any surprises you encountered alongside the way in which?
I’m an enormous runner and I really like Salomon. My buddy purchased a few of their sneakers and I saved the field to make a drawing. I texted an image of it to somebody from Salomon and so they provided me a pair of sneakers. Since then, we’ve been in a position to type a extremely pure friendship and partnership, which has allowed me to get up to now. I nonetheless can’t imagine it.
I had an preliminary drawing I made by hand, however had no concept how I used to be going to get it on the shoe, so I went to a sneaker man for some assist. They turned out so good, I’m actually pleased with it. It’s a type of issues the place you shut your eyes and simply see a picture of what you need: one thing that’s actually me.
Are you able to stroll us by way of your XT-6 design and your determination so as to add these gildings relatively than redesign it solely?
I wished to make it in order that once you stand, my characters have a look at one another, and wished to place as a lot as myself on a shoe with out making it too garish. One thing daring and recognizable, but in addition one thing that seamlessly match with the design. That’s how the faces come throughout, and I simply love the star. It’s so cute on the again.
The final time we spoke with you, you talked about that your apply was formed by the solitude of dwelling in Cape City. Since your return to England, how has your artistic apply, or your emotional connection to it, developed?
From the time I got here again, I began to hone in on how I wished my work to be perceived. I wished folks to look my items, acknowledge it as mine and simply really feel issues inside them. My work aren’t only one layer. I’ll most likely paint like seven faces on prime of each other. In case you ever get to see my items in individual, you’ll see the layers of faces that handed by way of beforehand, and it’s like my work evolve as folks — we’re all slowly simply coming into the ultimate picture of what we’d wish to be.
Courtesy Of The Artist And Poisonous Arts Gallery
Courtesy Of The Artist And Poisonous Arts Gallery
Courtesy Of The Artist And Poisonous Arts Gallery
Courtesy Of The Artist And Poisonous Arts Gallery
Courtesy Of The Artist And Poisonous Arts Gallery
Courtesy Of The Artist And Poisonous Arts Gallery
Courtesy Of The Artist And Poisonous Arts Gallery
What retains me motivated is simply making my drawings develop. I’ve received to get up and really feel the fireplace and simply see the place my future takes me.
As somebody navigating the UK arts scene firsthand, what shifts have you ever seen as an rising artist? How does the London scene examine to Manchester’s?
It’s all about going on the market, making connections and dealing on stuff that’s true to you. Proper now, it’s a number of model work. I really like working with Salomon as a result of it’s very me, and by doing a mission like this, it propels me in these totally different instructions that assist me navigate the scene. It’s additionally about tapping into all these totally different pockets and using all the pieces inside the UK scene. We’re a small nation, so all the pieces’s fairly accessible for those who’re keen to hunt it out.
With Manchester, we’re form of new to the artwork scene. Gallery presence continues to be rising, and it’s coming alongside properly. There’s actually an actual push for younger Manchester artists as a result of we’re seeing a number of potential and now folks have a greater understanding of how one can make it by way of artwork.
What’s the synergy like between your self and Poisonous Arts? They function very uniquely in the way in which that they offer artists a lot belief and company to showcase their work authentically.
It’s been such a breath of recent air as a result of I’m not a businessman, I simply love to color. Poisonous Arts provides me the chance to deal with creating with out pigeonholing me or stunting my skills. They don’t have an in-person gallery house, however each time they do a present, it’s all about bringing you into their world. They’ve entrusted me with the assumption of what I need to do, so it feels extra like working with mates that need to see me attain my potential and actually do this as effectively.
What do you hope the viewers walks away out of your present with?
I would like folks to come back in and see my work and really feel a connection to what I’ve constructed, particularly one thing that’s as recognizable as faces. Lots of people have mentioned my work feels fairly nostalgic. So long as it evokes a sense or a reminiscence, I’m pleased with simply that little little bit of connection. That’s all I would like — for folks to see the character within the piece and never simply the 2D picture.
What’s been holding you motivated, excited or impressed as of late?
Once I began making artwork, I spotted that is what I’m going to be doing. It’s what makes me smile once I get up and excited to start out my day. What retains me motivated is simply making my drawings develop. I’ve received to get up and really feel the fireplace and simply see the place my future takes me.
