A new series of work by British artist Lincoln Townley has been announced and is set to debut in London and Los Angeles in January 2025. Entitled “Homage to Francis Bacon,” the series is comprised of 25 oil paintings, and takes inspiration from ideas of excess and fantasy, mirroring both the work and life of Bacon, the Irish-born, British painter of the 20th century. While all the works will be listed on Artnet, for the in-person launches 15 will be presented in the Townley’s studio home in Knightsbridge, and ten at his space in West Hollywood.

Lincoln Townley, Bankers Sunshine in Soho (2024). Courtesy of the artist.

“Homage to Francis Bacon” follows on the heels of Townley’s recent sold-out debut of his “Bankers” series, which went on view at the Palazzo Bembo in Venice earlier this year, coinciding with the 60th Venice Biennale. While “Bankers” took sharp focus on the themes surrounding contemporary banking, wealth, and greed, in “Homage to Francis Bacon” Townley takes a more nuanced, fantastical approach to the darker facets of human existence. The artist mines his own autobiography for inspiration, including his experiences with addiction and time spent working at Stringfellows Gentlemen’s Club—an establishment paralleling that of Bacon’s with the Colony Room Club, which attracted everyone from “low-lifes” to members of the avant-garde.

Lincoln Townley, Bankers Dance for Bacon (2024). Courtesy of the artist.

“Every one of my ‘Banker’ heads have an element of self-portrayal, when I do these works I paint five at a time moving back and forth and building the energy of the pieces by layering sometimes 15-20 layers of oil paint,” said Townley. “I mainly work at night in the small hours, locked away in my studio in Manchester. In this series I’ve delved into fantasy realism as I look at back at my times in Soho and think of what it must have been like to have tread the sticky carpet of the Colony Room Club as once did Francis Bacon. I imagine the characters he must have witnessed burning the candle at both ends, it’s all here in these works and this is my homage to the great British icon.”

Lincoln Townley, Bankers Control of the Room (2024). Courtesy of the artist.

Townley’s newest series marks a significant milestone in his artistic practice, showcasing the ability to not only capture but communicate complex dialogues between personal histories, art history, and the boundless nature of fantasy and imagination. While Bacon was firmly situated within the context of 20th-century movements such as Expressionism, Surrealism, and Cubism, Townley explores comparable themes but conveys them through a decidedly contemporary lens. Through his unique techniques and creative vision, Townley’s paintings ultimately explore the universality of humanity.

Explore the work of Lincoln Townley here.