Oliver Osborne
Oliver Osborne
Oliver Osborne paints across time, bringing the atmosphere of the Old Masters into the fluid image-world of the present. His figures emerge through veils of color and changing light. Painted on herringbone linen, his psychologically-charged compositions are grounded by the visible weave of the textile. Through allegory and transformation, Osborne casts painting as a centuries-long conversation whose possibilities are still unfolding.
Osborne (b. 1985, Edinburgh) studied at Chelsea College of Arts and the Royal Academy Schools in London. He has enjoyed recent institutional solo exhibitions at ICA Milano, Italy, and Bonner Kunstverein, Germany. Both exhibitions were accompanied by monographs. His work has been included in group exhibitions at Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg; and Museo di Capodimonte, Naples, among others. His work is held in the collections of Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin; David and Indré Roberts Collection, London; Aishti Foundation, Beirut; Braunsfelder Family Collection, Cologne; Haubrok Foundation, Berlin; and Sander Collection, Darmstadt. Osborne lives and works in Berlin.
Oliver Osborne
Portrait of the Artist’s Sons, 2026
Oil on herringbone linen
48 3/8 x 32 5/8 inches / 123 x 83 cm
Oliver Osborne
Portrait of the Artist’s Sons, 2026
Scale view
Oliver Osborne
Sleeping Guards, 2026
46 7/8 x 31 1/8 x 2 3/8 inches / 119 x 79 x 6 cm
Oliver Osborne
Sleeping Guards, 2026
Scale view
Oliver Osborne
The Card Players, 2026
Oil and acrylic on herringbone linen
35 x 21 1/4 x 2 3/8 inches / 89 x 54 x 6 cm
Oliver Osborne
Multi-Figure Composition with Leaf, 2026
Oil and acrylic on herringbone linen
25 1/4 x 29 1/8 x 2 3/8 inches / 64 x 74 x 6 cm
Oliver Osborne
Multi-Figure Composition with Leaf, 2026
Scale view
Oliver Osborne
Kit, Alfie, Leaves, 2025
Oil and acrylic on herringbone linen
13 3/8 x 11 3/8 x 2 3/8 inches / 34 x 28.9 x 6 cm
Installation view, Oliver Osborne, The Card Players, 2026, Jessica Silverman.
Installation view, Oliver Osborne, The Card Players, 2026, Jessica Silverman.
Oliver Osborne
Portrait of the Artist’s Son (Wolf), 2025
Oil and acrylic on herringbone linen
23 1/4 x 15 3/8 x 2 3/8 inches / 59 x 39 x 6 cm
Oliver Osborne
Portrait of the Artist’s Son (Alfie), 2024-25
Oil and acrylic on herringbone linen
15 3/8 x 13 3/8 x 2 3/8 inches / 39 x 34 x 6 cm
ADDITIONAL WORKS
Installation view
Oliver Osborne, The Sleeping Guard, 2025, Fondazione ICA Milano, Italy.
Installation view
Oliver Osborne, The Sleeping Guard, 2025, Fondazione ICA Milano, Italy.
Oliver Osborne
Untitled,2024
Oil on linen
15 3/4 x 17 3/4 inches / 40 x 45 cm
Oliver Osborne
Portrait of the Artist’s Son (Alfie), 2023-24
Oil on linen
19 x 17 inches / 48.3 x 43.2 cm
Oliver Osborne
German Afternoons No. 1, 2021-2022
Oil on linen
21 3/4 x 17 7/8 inches / 55.4 x 45.4 cm
Oliver Osborne
8.4.2020., 2020
Oil on linen
21 1/4 x 18 7/8 x 1 inches / 54 x 48 x 2.7 cm
Oliver Osborne
Untitled, 2020
Oil on linen
10 1/4 x 11 x 1 inches / 26 x 28 x 2.7 cm
Oliver Osborne
Reclining Nude, 2019
Oil on linen
21 1/2 x 28 1/2 x 1 inches / 54.5 x 72.5 x 2.7 cm
Oliver Osborne
Untitled (1.19), 2019
Oil on linen
21 1/2 x 16 3/4 x 1 inches / 54.5 x 42.5 x 2.7 cm
Oliver Osborne
Untitled, 2019
Oil on linen
11 1/4 x 10 1/4 x 1 inches / 28.5 x 26 x 2.7 cm
Installation view, Oliver Osborne, Bonnie, 2018, Bonner Kunstverein
Oliver Osborne
Portrait of Paul Klee with cat, bread, and apples, 2018
Oil on linen
18 1/8 x 15 inches / 46 x 38 cm
Oliver Osborne
Untitled, 2017
Oil on linen
18 7/8 x 13 3/8 inches / 48 x 34 cmd
Oliver Osborne
Untitled, 2017
Oil on linen
11 x 13 3/8 inches / 28 x 34 cm
Oliver Osborne
Untitled, 2016
Oil and collage on linen
11 1/8 x 15 inches / 28.3 x 38.1 cm
Oliver Osborne
Rubber Plant, 2016
Oil on linen
12 5/8 x 9 1/2 inches / 32 x 24 cm
Oliver Osborne
Untitled, 2015
Oil on linen
15 1/8 x 11 1/8 x 1 1/8 inches / 38.5 x 28.2 x 3 cm
EXHIBITIONS
PRESS
CV
Born 1985, Edinburgh, Scotland
Postgraduate Diploma, Royal Academy Schools, London
BA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art, London
Solo Exhibitions
2026
Oliver Osborne: The Card Players, Jessica Silverman, San Francisco, CA
Der Tegernseer Bauernjunge, Paulina Caspari, Munich
2025
The Sleeping Guard, Fondazione ICA Milano, Milan
Comic Sans, Francis Irv, New York
Ooh!, Union Pacific, London, UK
2024
Botticelli, Tanya Leighton, Berlin
Grund und Figur, Marc Jancou Contemporary, Saanen, Switzerland
2023
Manganese Blue, Galeria Pelaires, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Recent Painting, Tanya Leighton, Los Angeles, CA
2022
Mantegna’s Dead Christ, Union Pacific, London, UK
A Portrait of a Fat Man for Düsseldorf, JVDW, Düsseldorf
German Afternoons, Tanya Leighton, Berlin
2021
Portrait of a Fat Man at Sunset, The Bunker, Santa Monica, CA
Portrait of a Fat Man, Galeria Pelaires, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
2020
Der Kleine Angsthase, Braunsfelder, Cologne
2019
More Birth, More Education, More Leisure, More Death, Peles Empire, Berlin
Birth, Education, Leisure, Death, Giò Marconi, Milan
2018
Bonnie, Bonner Kunstverein, Bonn, Germany
2017
On Swabian Hedonism, Tanya Leighton, Berlin
2016
European Paintings, Peles Empire, Berlin
False Friends Falsche Freunde, Vilma Gold, London, UK
2015
The Neck, Giò Marconi, Milan
Oliver Osborne, Catherine Bastide, Brussels
Masculina och Feminina (Europa), Carl Kostyal, Stockholm
2013
Anna, Vilma Gold, London, UK
Otto, Frutta, Rome
2010
Buy a good bed and good shoes, if you are not in one you are in the other, Peles Empire, London, UK
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025
Portraits: EDEL SEI DER MENSCH, Braunsfelder, Cologne
FW pt.2, High Art, Paris
The Third Perspective, The Merode, Brussels
2024
Meet me by the lake, CLEARING, New York
Various Others, Paulina Caspari Gallery, Munich
A GENTLE CRUISE, JVDW, Düsseldorf
Nine Oils, Francis Irv, New York
2023
Day by Day, Good Day, Union Pacific, London, UK
Collection privée, La Traverse, Marseille, France
2022
Homestory, Friends Space, Berlin
2021
kSuL22svwBxgJ2Z, Pas une Orange, Barcelona
The Medieval and the Minimal, Becky’s, Berlin
Le Regard Luisant, Union Pacific, London, UK
2020
HEART – 100 artists. 1 mission, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg
2019
Editions, Peles Empire, Berlin
2018
The Revolutionary Suicide Regiment Band Part 2, Rob Tufnell, London, UK
Empire/Osborne, Moran Moran, Los Angeles, CA
2017
Plant Scenery of the World, Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
Summerfest 2017, Max Hetzler, Berlin
L’Été plus vaste que l’Empire…, Wentrup, Berlin
Monday is a day between Sunday and Tuesday, Tanya Leighton, Berlin
Home is not a place, German Embassy, London, UK
2015
The Ultimate Vessel, Koppe Astner, Glasgow
The Funnies, MOT International, Brussels
The Written Trace, Paul Kasmin, New York
Yes We’re Open, Gió Marconi, Milan
2014
The Go Between, Museo di Capodimonte, Naples and Sprovieri, London, UK
Oliver Osborne, Emanuel Röhss, Max Ruf, Carl Kostyál, London, UK
Everything Falls Faster Than An Anvil, Pace Gallery, London, UK
Frauen, Die Ausstellung, Autocenter, Berlin
New Order: British Art Today II, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
Bloody English, OHWOW, Los Angeles, CA
2013
Grand Opening, Frutta, Rome
The Writing is on the Wall, Jonathan Viner, Margate Degrees of Separation, Galerie
Jeanroch Dard, Paris, France
Yes I will Yes, American Contemporary, New York
Group Show, Mihai Nicodim Gallery, Los Angles, CA
Paradise Garage, Kinman, London, UK
Friendship in Six Planes, Peles Empire, London, UK
We outsourced everything and now we’re bored, L’Atelier Kunst Spiel Raum, Berlin
2012
Bloomberg New Contemporaries, Liverpool Biennial and ICA, London, UK
Jack Lavender, Oliver Osborne, Marco Palmieri, The Approach, London, UK
The Response, The Sunday Painter, London, UK
Painting, is a painting, is a painting, Cul de Sac, London, UK
2011
The Call (FCO-CLJ-LTN), Peles Empire, Cluj-Napoca, Off-Site, 19 Great Sutton Street, London, UK
Karl Orton, Oliver Osborne, Tomas Downes, Galerie Eva Winkeler, Cologne
2010
Men, OrtonNL, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Premiums, Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK
2009
Lucky PDF Lightbox, Bold Tendencies III, London, UK
Selected Publications
2025
Cotton, Michelle, Salvadori, Alberto, and Osborne, Oliver. Recent Painting. ICA Milano and Distanz Publishing: Milan (2025) [exh. cat.]
2020
Oliver Osborne: Der Kleine Angsthase. Braunsfelder: Cologne (2020) [exh. cat.]
2018
Oliver Osborne: Bonnie. Bonner Kunstverein: Bonn, Germany (2018) [exh. cat.]
2016
Myers, Terry R. and Hatful, Nicholas. European Paintings. Mousse Publishing: Milan (2016)
Selected Bibliography
2026
Barrow, Ted. “A Roving Perspective: Mukherjee at Wendi Norris, Hoeber and Osborne at Silverman.” Artbae. July 8, 2026.
Gamso, Nicholas. “Oliver Osborne Asks How We Picture Childhood.” Frieze. July 7, 2026.
2025 Silver, Hannah. “Comedy, history and traditional portraiture combine in Oliver Osborne’s exhibitions in London and New York.” Wallpaper*. May 2025.
Holman, Matthew. “Oliver Osborne: old master, new tricks.” Plaster Magazine. May 2025.
Deng, Qingyuan. “The Eternal Present.” Family Style. May 2025.
Behrens, Edward. “Face to Face with Oliver Osborne.” Apollo Magazine. May 2025.
2024
Speed, Mitch. “What to See Across Europe This July.” Frieze. July 2024.
Reyburn, Scott. “Art Basel Opens to Safe Sales and Fears of a Weaker Market.” The New York Times. June 2024.
2023
Goldstein, Andrew. “10 of the Best Artworks at Art Basel 2023.” Artnet News. June 2023.
2022
Roberts-Komireddi, Cleo. “What to See in London This Week.” Art Basel. October 2022.
Speed, Mitch. “Oliver Osborne’s Masterclass in Painterly Discipline.” Frieze. August 24, 2022.
2020
Schafhausen, Nicolaus, and Nils Emmerichs. Oliver Osborne: Der Kleine Angsthase. Braunsfelder (catalogue). 2020.
Scheper, Moritz. “The Soothing Effect of Oliver Osborne’s Paintings.” Frieze Magazine. Issue 214. 2020.
2018
Meschede, Friedrich, and Kyla McDonald. Oliver Osborne, Bonnie. Bonner Kunstverein (catalogue). 2018.
2017
Gallagher, Catriona. “Plant Scenery of the World.” MAP Magazine. August 2017.
2016
Barry, Robert. “Everything Is a Picture: The False Friends of Oliver Osborne.” The Quietus. May 22, 2016.
Myers, Terry R., and Nicholas Hatfull. “European Paintings.” Mousse. 2016.
2015
Florian, Federico. “Review: Oliver Osborne, Giò Marconi, Milan.” Art in America. October 2015.
Bordignon, Elena. “I rebus di Oliver Osborne – Giò Marconi, Milan.” ATP Diary. July 2015.
“The Neck. Oliver Osborne.” CURA Magazine. July 2015.
“Oliver Osborne: The Neck.” Wall Street International. June 2015.
“Oliver Osborne.” Cover. Arte e Critica (City Listings Insert). June 2015.
Feelings: Soft Art. Skira Rizzoli. 2015.
2014
100 Painters of Tomorrow. Thames & Hudson. 2014.
Santandrea, Guido. “Oliver Osborne and the Visual Communication.” Arte e Critica. No. 77. Winter 2014, pp. 56–58.
Trembley, Nicolas. “Oliver Osborne.” Numéro. No. 156. September 2014.
Forbes, Alexander. “10 Smart Buys at Art Basel Satellite Fairs.” Artnet. June 19, 2014.
Carmichael, Eliza, and Seth Carmichael. “25 Artists to Watch in 2014.” Complex Magazine. January 2014.
2013
Harbison, Isobel. “Oliver Osborne.” CURA Magazine. Issue 13. 2013.
Harbison, Isobel. “Jack Lavender, Oliver Osborne & Marco Palmieri.” Frieze Magazine. Issue 150. 2013.
Anna. “Oliver Osborne.” CURA. 2013.
“PV of the Week: Oliver Osborne/Luca Knipscher at Vilma Gold.” Dazed. 2013.
2012
Homersham, Lizzie. “Review of The Response.” Frieze. 2012.
Harbison, Isobel. “Jack Lavender, Oliver Osborne, Marco Palmieri.” Frieze. Issue 150. October 2012.
Collections
Aishti Foundation, Beirut
Braunsfelder Family Collection, Cologne
Roberts Institute of Art, London
Haubrok Foundation, Berlin
Ringier Collection, Zürich
Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin
Saatchi Collection, London
Sander Collection, Darmstadt