Antony Micallef is a British contemporary artist and painter working in London. He appeared on the British art scene after being a prize winner of the BP Portrait Award competition. Since then, his mix of political imagery fused with contemporary expressionism has won him worldwide acclaim. Recent exhibitions include group shows at the Royal Academy and the Tate Britain. His paintings examine the contemporary relationship with consumerism and branding among other themes. His work concerns itself with what he sees as the "frivolities" of pop culture in a process that has been dubbed "critical pop". Art A graduate in Fine Arts from the University of Plymouth, Micallef's practice has been summarized as 'critical pop', exposing the darker side of our consumerist society and the human condition. His use of neutral colors and depictions of the human form delve beyond pop culture and bring to the surface many of the things that operate underneath the cultural construct. Aspects of Micallef's work examines our dichotomous relationship with consumerism, questioning how we can despise multi-national brands yet still allow ourselves to be seduced by them. He frequently uses the union of two opposites to make an intriguing chemistry. His painting style has been compared to Francis Bacon and is seen as an amalgamation of influences from the old masters such as Caravaggio and Velázquez to more modern contemporary photographers and graphic artists. His depiction of the human body and mark making echo his teachings from John Virtue, a former student of Frank Auerbach. The rawness of expressionistic painterly marks work in stark contrast to the more graphic elements which surface throughout his work. In Raw Intent, a 2016 series of self-portraits, Micallef moved his focus away from social critique and more toward depicting emotion, saying, "This body of work I’m making now is really about being human." From 18 June 2007 Sotheby's catalogue: In 2012, to accompany the AKA Peace Exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), Art Below showcased selected works from the AKA Peace series on the London Underground including Micallef's. "AKA Peace," originally conceived by photographer Bran Symondson and now curated by artist Jake Chapman, was an exhibition of new works made for The Peace One Day Project 2012, bringing together a group of Contemporary Artists, all of whom agreed to transform a decommissioned AK-47 assault rifle, refashioning it into works of art. Penguin Books cover In 2017, Micallef