
Merlin James’s Hobby Horse exhibition explores the nature of painting through varied imagery, including a child on a hobby horse and a recurring ovoid form. His works blur distinctions between support and image, featuring unique frames, curved formats, and transparent elements. The show includes paintings from the early 1980s to today, emphasizing memory’s non-linear nature. Subjects range from landscapes to intimate scenes, reflecting James’s ongoing engagement with illusion, expression, and meaning.