Toto, 2022

David Ferreira   Emerging artists

David Ferreira is a French artist born in 1982. He took a few painting lessons as a child however never took it any further. Incredibly, he is entirely self-taught. Influenced by his carpenter father, Ferreira started out in building design and began his career as a surveyor.

However drawing and designing quickly became more important to him than the buildings and he soon threw himself into painting. His love for geometric art and maths has come to define his style. You can find the influence everywhere; complex equations, shapes and puzzles are spread across his artwork. Out of this mathematical mayhem comes Toto, Ferreira's seminal protagonist, who looks like he's walked straight out of a child's drawing.

He does takes inspiration from science and rules however his art is completely instinctive and spontaneous. You can feel his passion oozing from his artwork.The paint spills across the edges of his artwork, showing it off in three dimensions and giving the impression that the canvas was there long before the wall. Even with more detailed work involving the use of perspective, like his pieces based on the famous Rubik's cube, popular in the 80's, the artist still does a sketch or lines in his distinctive style.

The materials used, ranging from material to metal, are undoubtedly as significant as the colours and geometric shapes they create. A paintbrush is thrown aside for a trowel, a knife or even the artist's own fingers. Constantly darting back and forth in front of the canvas, he also appreciates stepping back and admiring it from afar - which is why you're more likely to find him in front of a big canvas than small.

When covered with a glossy topcoat, the canvases show off all their colours and movements. They sparkle and change throughout the day. If his artwork and personal story remind you of Basquiat, you'll be pleased to hear that Basquiat was a big inspiration for Ferreira and references to the artist can be found throughout his work.

We recognise Ferreira works not just by the signature, but by his favourite number, 15. This figure carries a huge significance for both the artist and his family, a reminder of happy times gone-by, and it follows him across every one of his pieces.