Rising in recognition for his psychologically-charged, figurative paintings, Shaqúelle Whyte’s enigmatic works allude to surreal, otherworldly narratives which are nonetheless rooted in his own experiences, as well as representations of Black masculinity, mythological tales and the artist’s musical influences. Whyte’s paintings conjure a sense of palpable tension and dynamism.
Known for his large-scale figurative paintings that propose elusive, imagined spaces, Whyte’s In an embroiled fashion (2025) continues his characteristic style of loosely rendered, energetic brushwork using a colour palette of deep and rich hues. Featuring two male figures engaged in a physical wrestle, Whyte interrogates the human body through paint without revealing his subjects’ identity, thus adding to a pervasive sense of mystery. In the foreground, a third, nude male walks towards us, though his head turns backwards, as if he has detected something - or someone - beyond our gaze. Set against a shadowy, rural landscape, these figures invite further speculation. Narrative plays a key part in Whyte’s work, though his enigmatic paintings carry certain familiar motifs in a non-linear way. In this sense, each painting can be read individually whilst also sparking dialogue with other works by the artist.
(Text by Charlotte Keenan, Head of Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool)
