The Space That Moves

When the principles of perspective are reversed and solidified into sculpted paintings, something extraordinary happens: the mind is tricked into perceiving movement in the unmoving. This perceptual sleight-of-hand is at the heart of Patrick Hughes’s work.

In this engaging talk, Hughes explores the surreal psychology behind reverspective—his unique technique that transforms visual logic and fools the brain into seeing the impossible. He introduces his latest concept, the Solid Hollow—a delightfully contradictory form where boxes are constructed with the inside on the outside and vice versa, turning conventional space inside out.

Drawing inspiration from the wit of Ivor Cutler and the surrealism of René Magritte, Patrick has long used HUMOUR as an artistic compass. Beneath the geometric play, he gently weaves in themes of human emotion and a poetic sense of NARRATIVE. And while much of his work reflects a deep affection for the past, it is laced with a curious, almost whimsical NOSTALGIA—for the future.

About Patrick Hughes

Patrick Hughes held his first solo exhibition in 1961 at the Portal Gallery, London—the first one-man show by a Pop Artist, before the term had even taken root. By the mid-60s, he pioneered reverse perspective with landmark works such as Infinity and Sticking-out Room.

In the 1970s, Hughes became known for his rainbow paintings—vibrant images that became widely beloved as prints and postcards, though for the artist they represented something far deeper: the idea of a solidified experience.

Revisiting reverspective in the late ’80s, he redefined the interplay of space and illusion, creating sculpted paintings that appear to move as you move. Over the past 25 years, his mesmerizing 3D works have been exhibited globally and now reside in major public collections. To encounter a Hughes in person is to stand before the paradox of stillness that moves, and unreality made tangible.

Come and join us for an engaging afternoon.