In his latest body of work, Culture and Commerce, Arthur examines and explores the narratives lost in the uneven accounting of history. Each portrait in this series is a fictitious advertisement that imagines what it might have been like had these craftsmen and women from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries been unencumbered in expressing their creativity and craft. The subjects and materials are meticulously researched and planned, and each composition includes a blend of new and antique components, tying the past to the present. 

Select from the images below to observe Arthur's dynamic process for creating each piece.  

 

Arthur's process combines painting and sculpture comprised of hand-crafted elements that he designs and creates using traditional methods.  He transforms raw materials – constructing, layering, distressing – thereby transporting us back to another era, connecting us to his subjects and their stories.