Sidewalk, New York,
Circa 2025
Michael Ashcroft
Painting : oil
18 x 18 x 0.5 cm 7.1 x 7.1 x 0.2 inch
One of the last works available by this artist
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About the artwork
Type
Unique work
Signature
Hand-signed by artist
Authenticity
Sold with certificate of Authenticity from the gallery
Invoice from the gallery
Dimensions cm • inch
18 x 18 x 0.5 cm 7.1 x 7.1 x 0.2 inch Height x Width x Depth
Support
Framing
Black frame
Artwork dimensions including frame
31 x 31 x 2 cm 12.2 x 12.2 x 0.8 inch
Artwork sold in perfect condition, framed, ready to hang
Artwork location: United Kingdom
Michael John Ashcroft's painting, , offers a transatlantic perspective on the cityscape genre for which the artist is widely known. While renowned for his truthful and atmospheric renderings of Northern English cities like Manchester, this work successfully translates his core artistic preoccupations—namely the interplay of light, shadow, and architectural form—to the compelling drama of the American metropolis. The oil painting captures a quintessential New York street-level view, focusing on the immediate foreground of the sidewalk and the looming verticality of the surrounding skyscrapers, establishing a composition that is both imposing and intimately human-scale.
The realist style is infused with a vivid, almost Impressionistic quality, which is particularly evident in the handling of the paint. Ashcroft's trademark use of bold, textured brushstrokes brings a tactile quality to the urban scene, conveying the wet sheen of the pavement or the dappled light hitting the building facades. The drama of the piece is often heightened by the time of day depicted, likely twilight or a rainy evening, allowing the artist to exploit his fascination with artificial light. Neon signs, car headlamps, and glowing shop windows create brilliant pockets of colour—reds, yellows, and blues—that cut through the deeper, shadowed tones of the urban canyons.
In its subject and execution, shares the same evocative power as the artist's Manchester series, yet with the distinct visual rhythm of an international centre. The painting captures a Hopperesque moment of quiet observation amid the overwhelming scale of the city, focusing on the geometry of the architecture and the isolated figures that inhabit the space. By rendering this iconic street scene with such commitment to the nuances of light and atmosphere, Ashcroft affirms his standing as a contemporary master capable of finding beauty and emotional resonance within the dynamic heart of any global city.
Collector’s Guide
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Presentation
Michael John Ashcroft ROI MAFA is a celebrated contemporary painter rooted in the great tradition of Lancashire painters. His evocative cityscapes and serene landscapes, rendered predominantly in oil, are grounded in a profound fascination with the interplay of light and shadow, a vision forged after a life-altering health event. Once a professional engineer, Ashcroft's life took an unexpected turn at age 28. Following a major operation for a brain tumour, a single, poignant moment—seeing his reflection with half his face in sunlight and the other in shade—was the catalyst for a renewed purpose, leading him to pursue painting with unwavering dedication.
This authentic origin story is the foundation of his practice. His technical skill and artistic vision have since earned him a place among the most respected art institutions in the UK. A member of the elite Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, Ashcroft's work has been exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists and the prestigious Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London. He was also a finalist on the BBC Two art programme , where he was selected to exhibit at the Mall Galleries from a field of over three thousand artists.
Acclaimed art critic David Lee, referencing this profound authenticity, hailed him as "a worthy heir of those in the great tradition of Lancashire painters." With a consistent record of sales on both the primary and secondary markets, Ashcroft's paintings are in demand with collectors worldwide.
Painters
British artists
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