As we prepare to unveil ‘Self Help’, the debut solo exhibition by Gary Stranger at Woodbury House, we are pleased to release an exclusive long-form conversation between the artist and our founder, Steven Sulley. This is not a conventional promotional clip—it’s an intimate, in-depth dialogue that traces the emotional, conceptual, and technical evolution of one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary typographic art.

While Gary long ago transitioned from the graffiti scene into the gallery space, this conversation revisits that broader journey—from his formative years painting with the global graffiti crew MSK, to the reasons behind his gradual shift in style and medium, and ultimately, to the quiet confidence of where he stands today. It is a conversation full of insight and vulnerability, offering a rare opportunity to experience Gary’s world through his own lens.

The discussion is reflective, valuable, and deeply revealing—capturing the inner movements behind the outer minimalism of his work. At its heart, this conversation explores what it means to let go of what once defined you, in order to fully inhabit the space you were always meant to occupy.

One of the core themes in the conversation is the ongoing tension between evolution and consistency. Gary Stranger is widely recognised for his early contributions to the graffiti scene and for the sharp, typographic clarity that has since defined his studio practice. Yet he is quick to reject any notion of a fixed identity. His is a practice in motion—restless, inquisitive, and unafraid to pause in pursuit of greater precision.

What emerges throughout the conversation is a growing intimacy with his tools and intentions. The shift from spray paint to brushwork, while not new, has become more than a technical adjustment; it reflects a philosophical repositioning. Gary discusses how slowing the process down has forced him to become more deliberate, not only in his execution but in the internal dialogue that precedes each work. Every mark, every word, is the result of careful consideration. It is a process of refining thought into form.

Gary Stranger has spoken before about the power of language in his work. But in this latest body of work, language is no longer simply an aesthetic device—it becomes the subject itself. ‘Self Help’ is not a comment on the self-help industry, nor is it motivational in any conventional sense. It is, rather, an act of self-confrontation.

Each phrase or word committed to canvas is part of a therapeutic ritual. As Gary shares in the conversation – “Words or phrases need to be committed to canvas to help me exorcise the feelings or thoughts they represent. It’s a process of therapy for me.”

This inward-facing approach is powerfully expressed in the show’s minimal, text-based compositions. The works speak with stark clarity, not because they are loud, but because they are unflinchingly honest. There is no excess, no ornamentation—only the raw distillation of thought. Gary likens this to releasing something from the mind into the world, where it can be seen, acknowledged, and, in some cases, let go.

Each piece becomes a kind of mantra, a note to self—anchoring emotion, reflection, or truth in the permanence of paint.

Although Gary Stranger has exhibited extensively, ‘Self Help’ marks a defining chapter. This is not a return in the traditional sense, but a consolidation—a moment of artistic maturity where everything that came before is absorbed, refined, and re-presented with conviction.

This exhibition does not attempt to escape his past; instead, it builds upon it. The aesthetic clarity we associate with Gary is still present, but the stakes are higher. The tone is more personal, the intention more focused. The conversation with Steven Sulley reveals a man no longer navigating between two identities—graffiti artist and contemporary artist—but rather shaping a space that fully contains both histories without contradiction.

As Gary explains:

“Almost all of the work is about how I process things. Words or phrases need to be committed to canvas to help me exorcise the feelings or thoughts they represent. It’s a process of therapy for me.”

The works in ‘Self Help’ are therefore not only visual statements but psychological releases. This introspective body of work offers viewers a rare glimpse into the artist’s internal world, using precise typographic forms and minimalist composition to externalise emotional states, questions, and mantras. Each piece is a private thought, rendered public. A message directed inward, yet shared outward. Each one a deliberate act of stillness.

‘Self Help’ opens at Woodbury House, Mayfair on 8th August 2025 and runs through to 25th September. The Private View will take place on 7th August, featuring a champagne reception, live music, and Gary Stranger in attendance.

This exhibition is more than a presentation—it’s an invitation into a space of introspection, clarity, and control. For longtime collectors and first-time visitors alike, ‘Self Help’ offers an opportunity to experience Gary’s most personal work to date.

If you would like to attend the Private View or enquire about available works, please register your interest below. And if you’d like to better understand the man behind the words, we encourage you to watch the full conversation.

Watch the full conversation here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPgmZ-VmL0Y

Register your interest or enquire about available works here https://woodburyhouseart.com/gary-stranger-register-interest/