Tim Rees: Gilded Souls
In his newest body of work, Rees presents a breathtaking continuation and transformation of the classical figurative style that earned him early acclaim. Known for his romantic, flowing depictions of the human form—often evoking the spirit of Alphonse Mucha—Rees now introduces a powerful new visual language that weaves together gold leaf, abstraction, and symbolic storytelling.
Drawing inspiration from masters like Gustav Klimt and AlphonseMucha, Gilded Souls marks a bold progression in Rees’s 15-year artistic journey. Each painting balances formal realism with design-driven abstraction, featuring dynamic backgrounds, thickly applied paint, and intricate gold leaf patterning that reflects both physical and emotional luminosity.
“Gold leaf represents the enhanced beauty and value of experiences that push us further,” Rees explains. “It’s about the journey—the hardships that refine and define us, much like kintsugi pottery, where broken pieces are mended with gold to become more beautiful than before.”
Anchored in classical techniques yet modern in execution, Rees’s figures—women holding up the world like Atlas, others lost in books, partially dissolving into gilded abstraction—convey the tension between vulnerability and strength. Each work invites the viewer to consider the quiet battles of life, and how perseverance imbues the soul with unexpected brilliance.
Rees reimagines scenes and references from his past work—figures in white dresses, plein air landscapes, and English countryside interiors—breaking them down into abstract designs that using them as the backgrounds for these new paintings, while elevating their emotional resonance. This merging of realism and abstraction challenges the viewer to contemplate not only the artwork, but the beauty found in transformation.
Join us for the Opening Reception on Thursday, December 4th, from 6–9 PM at Bonner David Galleries in Scottsdale. Discover how Timothy Rees invites us to explore the human experience—fragile, fractured, and ultimately gilded.