KENNETH WEBB | In Memory
Oil on Canvas
25.5 x 30.5 cms / 10 x 12 inches
Signed Webb (lower right)
Kenneth Webb’s In Memory is a striking modern still life painting that redefines floral artwork through bold abstraction and dynamic colour. As a celebrated contemporary British artist, Webb masterfully balances structure and spontaneity, with jewel-toned squares forming a vibrant bouquet against a minimalist backdrop. The contrast of rich blues and purples, punctuated by the stark red horizon, creates a sense of depth and movement, making this piece a captivating expression of emotion and memory.
Kenneth Webb’s In Memory is a striking and contemplative work, where simplicity and abstraction merge to create a deeply evocative composition. The painting presents a floral arrangement, but unlike traditional still lifes, it breaks apart the expected form, reconstructing it through a precise yet expressive arrangement of geometric elements. The bouquet itself, composed of rich blues, purples, and deep reds, rises from a stark blue vase, its colours floating in a carefully orchestrated pattern.
A single, unwavering red line bisects the background, subtly anchoring the composition while also introducing an element of quiet intensity. This line—minimal yet deliberate—suggests a boundary, a horizon, or even a memory frozen in time. Against the white canvas, every element stands in sharp relief, giving the painting an almost meditative quality.
Webb’s signature impasto technique is evident here, as each square of colour is applied with a deliberate, sculptural thickness. This layering of oil paint creates a tactile, dimensional surface, inviting viewers to engage not just visually, but almost physically, with the work. The choice of a controlled palette—cool blues and purples punctuated by occasional bursts of warmth—adds to the painting’s reflective and structured nature.
Unlike traditional floral depictions that emphasise fluidity and softness, Webb’s approach is architectural. The flowers are not rendered as individual blooms but rather as assembled fragments of memory, pieces of colour suspended in space. The contrast between the precise geometry of the bouquet and the stark simplicity of the background enhances the painting’s modernist sensibility, making it an arresting visual statement.
