Hot Valve Leak: The Visual Ramblings of Vic Reeves

The Strand Gallery welcomes you into the luring and manic vortex that is the mind Vic Reeves. Our central London gallery is proud to play house to some of the comedian philosopher extraordinaire’s most striking paintings and collages from both from his book Vic Reeves’ Vast Book Of World Knowledge and other assorted doodles.

A popular ‘comedian’s comedian’ in his double act with long-time collaborator Bob Mortimer, Reeves’ presence on the fine art circuit has grown over the years, and Hot Valve Leak at The Strand Gallery showcases popular pieces and many unseen works. Reeves describes his own art as “shit in the shed at the end of my garden mixed with early Dadaism” but with an education in art that consists largely of sneaking in to lectures at Goldsmith’s College, Reeves has fared well in crafting a style with such scope and variety that it will leave viewers struggling to see him as just a comedian.

Through an exclusive collection of paintings, drawings, collages and ceramics (many of which have never been exhibited) Hot Valve Leak demonstrates the subtlety in Reeves’ humour; attacking both society and nature with a foam sledgehammer. Many of the paintings and sketches display a clearly defined technical skill – something he often passes up in favour of child-like illustrations of twisted, garish caricatures. In these collected works, Reeves peels away another layer to his wit, allowing viewers the chance to explore a loud, nonsensical and hilariously misguided set of characters and social encounters.