Nighttime cityscapes reimagined as paintings

Philip Barlow

In his series of abstract paintings, artist Philip Barlow translates the fleeting moments often seen through out-of-focus camera lenses. This common photography phenomenon called the bokeh effect simplifies the background and subjects into colorful blurs of light. Although bokeh might be considered undesirable in photos, Barlow utilizes the geometric style in his paintings as a way to “capture ‘the moment,' a millisecond in time when everything lines up perfectly.”

Barlow's bokeh-effect paintings emphasize color and harmony over crisp and clear details. The nighttime cityscapes are reduced to blocks of light, while the human subjects become anonymous silhouettes that are barely distinguishable. In doing so, the viewer is immersed in an ephemeral moment that is both mysterious and familiar.

May 1, 2020