Whether it is a waft of the perfume you used to wear, or hearing a song from yesteryear, nostalgia can bubble up at the most unexpected times. It evokes a sense of longing and sentimentality for the past, uncovering long forgotten memories. Nostalgia is the fuel behind many iconic artworks by generations of artists – from Turner’s ‘The Fighting Temeraire’ and Constable’s ‘The Hay Wain’ to Blake’s ‘The Toy Shop’ and the sun-drenched serenity of Hockney’s swimming pools.
Drawing reference from specific time periods, places, and memories, artists working with concepts of nostalgia provide space for the viewer to reflect on memories from their own past and acknowledge the passage of time, whether with a view of joy or melancholy.
Today, nostalgia is influencing everything from music to fashion, with Generation Z pining for the aesthetics and sounds of decades they never experienced first-hand. In uncertain times, many of us turn to the stability of memories, finding comfort in art, television, and music. Here, we explore how ideas of nostalgia have influenced some contemporary artists, exploring their emotional connection with the past and encouraging the viewer to reminisce.
Building strong feelings of nostalgia for wider cultural memories of youth, Nigel Humphries centres childhood icons, featuring everything from famous musicians and superheroes to soft cuddly toys.
Revisiting the awe and wonder of our younger years, Humphries is skilled at evoking the youthful joy of losing yourself in play and imagination. Incorporating elements of Renaissance technique into his fine artistry, he creates incredibly realistic representations of his subject with the hope of stirring memories of childlike glee in the viewer.
Passionate about recreating feelings of childhood nostalgia in his artwork, Humphries makes the iconic teddy bear the star of his May 2025 collection. Dressing the anthropomorphic bears in the styles of different subcultures, the artist uses layered sentimentality to evoke strong feelings of nostalgia. Combined with the aesthetics of subculture movements, the images of quintessential childhood teddy bears create a broader cultural nostalgia for bygone eras in a whimsical and playful way.
Recreating a child's enjoyment of creating their own adventures with figurines and imagination, Nigel's artworks allow us to revisit the awe and wonder of our younger years.
Using somewhat provocative techniques, Whatshisname proves that nostalgia does not always have to be rose-tinted. Typically known for fusing themes of childhood nostalgia and pop culture to create artworks that inspire happy and joyful feelings, Whatshisname turns these ideas on their head in his The Malevolence Beneath collection.
Forcing the viewer to confront ideas of nostalgia and lost innocence, the collection is a visual metaphor for growing up and uncovering the unsettling truths behind once beloved images of four recognisable cartoon characters. Fuelled by the artist’s long-standing fascination with the dark side of childhood films, The Malevolence Beneath expresses the sense of disillusionment felt by many when they grow up and learn of the corporate interests behind their childhood favourites.
Whatshisname’s unique fusion of architectural visualisation and themes of nostalgia explore our adult psyches, causing us to question our perspectives of the past.
“Many of us hold on to something special and meaningful that we grew out of but still remember fondly.” - Whatshisname
Featured Art (L-R): 'Playtimes Over' and 'Unauthorised Mission'. Hand-signed embellished giclée on canvas limited editions by Whatshisname.
Inspired by the Yorkshire mill towns that shaped his youth, Northern Impressionist painter Bob Barker injects memories of his own childhood into his work, hoping that they will resonate with the viewer. Through images of childhood, family and romance, Barker depicts almost every aspect of humanity, touching his collectors by evoking memories of their own younger years.
Celebrating the bonds formed through shared experiences, Barker finds charm in the mundane, highlighting the familiar pleasure of an everyday scene. Seeing beauty where others may see soot-blackened brick and polluted skies, Barker captures a warm glow in his artwork that he refers to as ‘northern light’, inviting the viewer to indulge in the comfort of nostalgia.
Storytelling through his paintings, Barker shares personal memories with the viewer. Placing themselves in the shoes of the characters in the artworks, the viewer can step back in to their own treasured moments from the past.
“The echoes of my past become my future paintings.” – Bob Barker
Inspired by the Yorkshire mill towns that shaped his youth, Bob Barker is known for his ‘Northern Impressionism’ style.
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Featured Art: 'Whacky Racers', a hand-signed limited edition artwork by Bob Barker.
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