Appleton’s surreal, sometimes unsettling images are informed by the traditions of classical portraiture, still life and ornament. His works often employ anthropomorphism and decorative distortion to highlight the theatricality and artifice of the painted image. They also play with the relationship between representation and power and give us cause to reflect upon cultural politics and hierarchies of genre in fine and applied arts.

John Appleton passed away on 10 May 2023 following a time of illness he faced bravely. We take comfort in the knowledge that his extraordinary artworks will continue to enrich lives the world over.