Some spaces call for something so specific that no ready made artwork could ever quite answer the brief. This was one of those occasions.
The challenge was a bathroom, and not a conventional place many would immediately associate with statement art, but a space that was being designed as an immersive experience rather than simply a functional room. The intention was to create atmosphere, drama and a sense of discovery.
There was already a visual reference point, a photograph by a renowned photographer that captured the mood the owners were drawn to, but it was not the right size, proportion or perspective for the space. It needed reimagining entirely in order to achieve the effect the room required.
That is where commission became the answer.
Working once again with Martin Robson, the idea evolved into a monumental portrait of a black panther, standing almost life size at 1.6 metres tall. The ambition was not simply to depict the animal, but to make it emerge from darkness itself, creating an artwork you could continue discovering while soaking in the bath, one that carried mystery, depth and presence.
It was a technically ambitious concept. Black on black is notoriously difficult to master, requiring extraordinary control to create depth, movement and contrast without losing subtlety.
Martin brought it to life in the most extraordinary way.
”We wanted something dramatic and immersive, but we could never have imagined it would feel this alive.
Artizen ClientLondon
The panther appears to step out of shadow with remarkable grace, its gaze so arresting it feels almost present in the room. There is a haunting realism to the face on composition, a sense that the artwork follows you as you move through the space, which only deepens its immersive effect.
It became far more than a focal point. It became part of the atmosphere of the room.
Installed in its new home, the piece has taken pride of place ever since, transforming the bathroom into something almost cinematic. It is one of those artworks that invites you to pause and keep looking.
Interestingly, before installation the piece spent time on display at The Artizen, where it became one of the most talked about works in the gallery. Visitors were captivated by it and many commented it could have sold there and then.
That response only reinforced something the commission had already proven.
Sometimes off the shelf simply is not the best answer for a space.
Sometimes a room deserves something conceived especially for it.
This piece has since inspired other collectors to commission works for their own interiors, each taking cues from the original while tailoring the idea to their own spaces and palettes.
Perhaps that is part of the magic of commission. One idea can become a catalyst for many others.
But this one began as a singular vision. A panther emerging from darkness and it remains exactly that.
