Charlotte Keates is a rising star in the contemporary British art scene, celebrated for her distinctive paintings that combine modernist architecture, dream-like interiors, and nostalgic fragments of memory. Born in Somerset in 1990 and educated at Falmouth University, she has steadily gained recognition in the UK and internationally for her intricate panel paintings that transport viewers into imagined worlds. Her works are both intimate and expansive, evoking feelings of wonder, dislocation, and timelessness.
As of 2025, Keates has been officially represented by Asia Art Center, one of the leading international galleries promoting contemporary artists. Her art has been showcased across London, New York, Taipei, and other major cultural hubs, bringing her unique vision to audiences far beyond the British Isles.
Early Life and Education
Charlotte Keates grew up in rural Somerset, a region known for its pastoral beauty and quiet landscapes. While her surroundings were largely defined by nature, Keates was drawn to built environments, design, and geometry. This early tension between the natural world and human-made structures became an enduring theme in her work.
After completing her secondary education, she studied Fine Art at Falmouth University, a prestigious arts institution located in Cornwall. Here she refined her technical skills and began developing her interest in architectural compositions. Graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, she emerged with a distinct voice that fused painting with spatial imagination.
Artistic Style and Vision
Charlotte Keates is best known for her architectural dreamscapes—compositions that blend modernist interiors, mid-century aesthetics, and serene natural elements. Many of her works evoke spaces from the 1960s and 1970s, characterised by sharp lines, clean forms, and the optimism of post-war design.
Her paintings are not straightforward depictions of real spaces. Instead, they are imagined environments, assembled from fragments of memory, research, and intuition. The result is an interior that feels familiar yet unfamiliar, simultaneously utopian and slightly uncanny.
The influence of modernist architecture, particularly that of Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Richard Neutra, is visible in her panels. Yet these environments are often empty of people, allowing viewers to imagine themselves inhabiting the space. Occasionally, Keates introduces subtle narrative elements—a chair slightly moved, a doorway left ajar, or the suggestion of sound—that add intrigue and depth.
Working Process
Unlike many contemporary painters, Charlotte Keates prefers to work on wooden panels rather than canvas. She prepares her own surfaces, applying layers of gesso before sketching the outlines of her architectural interiors. The rigidity of the panel suits the sharpness of her geometric forms, while also providing a surface that can withstand her layering techniques.
Her colour palette is a striking balance between earthy tones and vibrant hues. Terracotta reds, sea-greens, and warm ochres coexist with bursts of turquoise and pastel pinks. This palette strengthens the retro-modern quality of her work while avoiding sentimentality.
In interviews, Keates has admitted to being a night worker, often painting between 11 pm and 4 am. She finds this solitude essential, as it allows her to immerse herself fully in the construction of her dreamlike interiors.
Exhibitions and Representation
Keates’ career has been marked by steady and significant exhibitions. She held her first London solo show at Arusha Gallery, titled A Constant Hum, which received wide critical attention. Her works have since travelled internationally, featuring in art fairs and group exhibitions.
In 2025, she was officially signed by Asia Art Center, marking a new stage in her global career. This partnership has already borne fruit:
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“Internal Landscapes” at Hermès, New Bond Street (London, 2025) – An installation that blended her painted dreamscapes with the luxury brand’s architectural space. Running until September 2025, it highlights her ability to merge fine art with commercial design in a way that remains authentic.
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Upcoming Exhibition at Ju Ming Museum, Taipei (October 2025) – A group exhibition where Keates’ work will be shown alongside international artists, reflecting her growing recognition in Asia.
Her consistent presence at international galleries underlines her status as an artist with both critical and commercial appeal.
You can explore more about her recent exhibitions and representation at Asia Art Center.
Inspirations and Influences
Charlotte Keates draws on diverse sources of inspiration, from mid-century design magazines to personal memories and haiku poetry. She often uses literature and short verse as a starting point, allowing words to unlock visual possibilities.
Her practice also reflects an interest in utopian and dystopian themes. While her interiors often appear serene, there is an underlying ambiguity: are these spaces invitations to a better life, or do they symbolise isolation in a hyper-designed world?
This tension between beauty and emptiness mirrors broader cultural conversations about modernism—its promises, failures, and lingering emotional power.
Notable Works
Some of Charlotte Keates’ standout paintings include:
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No Man’s Land (2024) – Acrylic and oil pastel on panel, 120 × 100 cm. This work exemplifies her mastery of balancing sharp geometry with soft atmospheric tones.
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A Constant Hum Series (2021) – A body of work exploring the unseen energy within architectural environments.
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Interior With Pool (various years) – A recurring motif in her practice, often featuring calm turquoise pools set against angular interiors.
Each of these works demonstrates her fascination with controlled spaces and the quiet mysteries they contain.
Critical Reception
Art critics and curators have praised Charlotte Keates for her ability to create immersive, narrative-rich paintings that avoid cliché. Rather than relying on nostalgia, she constructs new architectural worlds that feel both retro and contemporary.
Her works have been collected by private collectors in the UK, Europe, and Asia, with demand steadily rising. The support of Asia Art Center ensures her visibility on the global stage, allowing her work to be seen by broader audiences.
The Future of Charlotte Keates
With exhibitions planned in Asia and collaborations with major international galleries, Charlotte Keates’ career trajectory is clearly upward. Her art resonates in a time when people are rethinking the meaning of interior spaces—especially after the global pandemic shifted attention towards the environments we inhabit daily.
Her paintings are not simply about architecture; they are about memory, atmosphere, and possibility. They invite us to pause and reflect on the spaces we desire and the realities we construct.
Conclusion
Charlotte Keates is more than just a promising British painter—she is a visionary artist who has carved out a unique style blending architecture, imagination, and emotion. From her beginnings in Somerset to her representation by Asia Art Center and international exhibitions, she has established herself as a name to watch in the art world.
Her paintings do not merely decorate walls; they open doorways into new realms of thought and feeling. For art collectors, critics, and enthusiasts alike, Charlotte Keates represents the best of contemporary British art—rooted in tradition yet endlessly forward-looking.
