William Farr (b.1992, Yorkshire, UK) is a British painter based in London. He received his MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art (2024) and is currently working towards his first solo exhibition which will take place in May at Berntson Bhattacharjee, London.
In his work, William Farr pursues a condition of prayer. His abstract paintings are created through a meditative, layered process, seeking to produce an immersive experience of sublime intensity.
Farr works with oil on linen canvas, using delicate mixtures of pigments and mediums to achieve varied depths and translucencies. This method creates a rhythm of instinctual painting. The resulting fields of colour and tone shift in changing light, creating a fluid space for questioning and contemplation.
Farr describes his practice as creating a cerebral mist, a space that transcends intention and thought. While rooted in personal experience, his work fosters universal connection. Influenced by both the Romantic sublime and contemporary abstraction, he seeks to evoke emotion and contemplation. Through long, reflective sessions, he aims to reach an “empty place” within himself, channeling instinct and discipline.