‘ICON’ BY DEFER

‘ICON’ — the landmark solo exhibition by Los Angeles-based artist DEFER — has captivated audiences at Woodbury House’s flagship Mayfair gallery.

Walking through ‘ICON’ is a sensory journey — every work pulses with an energy that borders on the spiritual. At the heart of the exhibition are large-scale canvas pieces, many of which were created on-site during DEFER’s artist residency at Woodbury House. These commanding works feel alive: layered, dynamic, and immersive, with calligraphic abstractions that invite viewers into a meditative state of rhythm and movement.

Executed with absolute control and intention, the scale of these works allows DEFER’s unique visual language to unfold in full force. The vibrancy of colour is striking — deep pinks, cobalt blues, electric golds, and inky blacks swirl and collide in a charged dance of tradition and futurism.

Alongside these monumental canvases are smaller original works that offer a more intimate experience. These pieces, though modest in size, are rich in detail — each mark a testament to DEFER’s decades-long refinement of a visual alphabet rooted in graffiti, spirituality, and heritage. The works on paper, in particular, reveal a delicate sensitivity — as if the artist’s hand still lingers on the surface.

Now on view by appointment until 31 July, ‘ICON’ offers collectors and art lovers a rare, unfiltered encounter with DEFER at the peak of his creative powers.