Paul Smith unveils a major new exhibition of work by British painter Oliver Hemsley

Paul Smith’s Albemarle Street shop in the heart of Mayfair will play host to an important new exhibition of work by British painter Oliver Hemsley. Dog Dad is an examination through paint of Hemsley’s deep connection with his beloved pet dogs Plop and Viv, who serve as the subjects of almost every work in the show. Having vowed never to make work about love until he had shared real love with another man, the origin of the exhibition came when Hemsley realised the purest love he had ever received was from his dogs.

The exhibition is, in Hemsley’s own words, ‘an invitation for all to celebrate dog joy, queer joy, and joy for those most magical connections we share with our closest and greatest confidantes.’ Dog Dad is curated by Hemsley’s friend, actor, and co-host of the Talk Art podcast, Russell Tovey. Tovey shares Hemsley’s love of dogs, and the two men carried on a curatorial dialogue over the course of a year to bring the show to fruition.

Dog Dad will be hosted in the gallery area of Paul Smith’s Albemarle Street shop. Having blurred the lines between retail and gallery space for decades, the iconic British brand regularly mounts exhibitions by a range of talented artists, reflecting the eponymous Sir Paul’s lifelong support of the arts. The exhibition will be on display throughout Art in Mayfair and each painting in the exhibition will be available for sale. Prices upon request.

Paul Smith: 9 Albemarle St, London W1S 4BL