I study and depict the clothed and nude figure. After a period of researching a subject I create.
Before I begin painting I empty my mind, I feel nothing, and through marks on any surface, immediate and poignant thoughts become known; I react to these.
My surfaces are soaked with a variety of media, swallowing arrays of colour; a vocabulary to visually speak through. Whether it is through delicate lines, rhythmic washes, violent slashes, smears, tears or bleeds, emotions are released and images emerge.
Sex, gender, a pose, a gesture, confusion, power and pain, destruction and construction, all feature in the abstracted figures I depict. My figures are predominantly solitary’
Rob Unett is a UK-based artist, image maker, creative director, advisor, and guide, whose multidisciplinary career spans more than 26 years across contemporary art, fashion, and education.
Trained in academic drawing, stylised illustration, abstract painting, fashion design, creative, bespoke pattern cutting, and clothing manufacture, his work is holistically informed by anatomy and botany, centring on singular clothed and nude figures that explore form and emotion. Working predominantly across drawing and painting, he demonstrates his extensive knowledge and masterful use of materials. Unett also integrates photography, film, and 3D software technologies, including AI all as creative and critical tools. His work occupies the space between observation and interpretation, placing historical and emerging modes of visual expression in dialogue.
Alongside his studio activities, Unett works across creative direction, consultancy, teaching, mentorship, and collaborative projects. He has undertaken commissions and collaborations spanning the cultural, fashion, and commercial sectors, including TATE, Vogue, SHOWstudio, Alexander McQueen, Nettwerk Music, BMW, Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty, Zara, and Tank and 10 Magazine. His work has been exhibited, published, and presented internationally through exhibitions (group and solo), editorial features, advertising, and community initiatives.
For more information, press, sales, loans, commissioning or working with Rob Unett please contact studio@robunett.com
PRESS, PUBLICATIONS, EXHIBITIONS & COMMISSIONS
JULY 2026 ‘DRAWN TO STYLE: ICONS TO INNOVATORS’
Exhibiting artist as part of a group show curated by SHOWstudio, presented in thier London gallery.
DECEMBER 2023 ‘FLOWERS’
Exhibiting artist as part of a group show curated by SHOWstudio, presented in thier London gallery.
NOVEMBER 2023 ‘RHODES (un-finished)’
Commissioned artist, creating hand and digital artworks for all single releases and album cover, including press, promotion and advertising assets for musician, singer songwriter Rhodes 2024 album release titled ‘(un-finished)’.
SEPTEMBER 2023 ‘DRAWING DAPHNE’
Contributing artist, part of Daphne Guinness’s music video and coinciding London exhibition.
MAY 2023 ‘ZARA ATELIER’
Artist for the Zara Atelier campaign photographed by Nick Knight.
Bespoke artworks made for Zara flagship stores, worldwide.
MAY 2022 ‘BMW’
Artist for the BMW 17 Series campaign photographed by Nick Knight.
JUNE 2023 ‘SMYTHSON X LONDON COLLEGE of FASHION’
Contributing artist working in the Smythson Portobello Notebook, to record the process of sketching, demonstrating the beauty and strength of the luxury brands signature Featherweight paper.
JUNE 2021 ‘SHOWSTUDIO 25TH ANNIVERSARY TIME CAPSULE’
Key artist commissioned to create 120 original paintings, individually included in each of the limited-edition box sets. The project featured contributions from leading fashion designers, artists and creatives, including Virgil Abloh, Simon Foxton, Lady Gaga, John Galliano, Craig Green, Stephen Jones and Rick Owens.
MAY 2021 ‘WE WILL SURVIVE’
Project lead, manager, curator and featured artist in a group collaboration exhibition, exploring real and virtual responses during COVID. Exhibition held at JUPITER gallery, Newlyn, Cornwall.
SUMMER 2021 ‘PAN & THE DREAM’
Commissioned and featured artist in ‘Pan & the Dream’ publication No.5.
OCTOBER 2020 ‘FUTURE DREAMS’
Contributing artist to a virtual reality, charity exhibition in aid of Breast Cancer Care. Artwork auctioned at £6,000.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 ‘IN RECLINE’
First solo exhibition featuring over 200 artworks on paper. exploring the figure in states of recline. Exhibition held at JUPITER gallery, Newlyn, Cornwall.
MARCH 2020 ‘VOGUE CHINA’
Collaboration with Nick Knight for Vogue China to create the March 2020 cover and editorial, featuring the singer, actress and fashion muse Chris Lee.
NOVEMBER 2019 ‘SUB(S)CUL(P)TURE’
Lead artist, project manager, curator and mentor, delivering an experimental live exhibition with CASS ART. CASS ART, gallery in Glasgow.
SEPTEMBER 2019 ‘THINK PINK’
Project initiator, manager and featured artist for Breast Cancer Care charity event.
FEBRUARY 2019 ‘MILAN FASHION WEEK’
Guest artist for SHOWstudio, painting Milan Fashion Week Fall 2019 collections.
JANUARY 2019 Artist in Residence at the ‘ARTSTORE’ in Selfridges London, front window ART TANK.
FURTHER BACK
DECEMBER 2018 Featured artist in ‘AQUARIUM’ group exhibition at PZ Gallery, Penzance, Cornwall.
NOVEMBER 2018 Commissioned artist for ‘BASED ISTANBUL’ publication.
JANUARY 2019 Featured artist in ‘100 WOMEN’ group exhibition at SHOWstudio’s London gallery.
SEPTEMBER 2018 Featured artist in ‘NOTHING EDITIONS’ publication.
SEPTEMBER 2018 Art / Psychology outreach workshop for Clinical Psychology and Therapies Team, Cornwall Council.
MAY 2018 Commissioned artist in ‘PAN & the DREAM' publication No.2.
MAY 2018 Truro ‘PLACESHAPING’ project lead artist working commissioned by Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole Architects Ltd, to mentor Penair School, Truro students.
JANUARY 2018 Exhibiting artist in group show at Chapel House, Penzance, Cornwall.
OCTOBER 2017 Commissioned artist for 'LIBERTY LONDON' store, womenswear floors and walls redesign.
JULY 2017 Commissioned artist in the ‘ABOUT FACE’ Liberty London beauty publication.
JUNE 2017 Featured artist in the ‘FASHION FLORA’ group exhibition at SHOWstudio’s London gallery.
APRIL 2017 Exhibited artist at Lander Gallery, Truro, Cornwall, as part of a group exhibition.
MARCH 2017 Featured artist in the ‘MOVING KATE’ (Kate Moss) group exhibition at SHOWstudio’s London gallery.
FEBRUARY 2017 Featured artist in 'CRUSH FANZINE', Issue 12.
JANUARY 2017 Featured artist in ‘L’OFFICIEL’ Singapore magazine.
JULY 2016 Commissioned artist, by ‘JIGSAW' to illustrate Georgia O’Keeffe for their international fashion collection and London store fronts artwork.
JUNE 2016 Featured artist in ‘TANK' Magazine’s Vetements AW16 Slogans project.
MAY 2016 Featured artist in Ello x SPOON Magazine’s The Nexus of Art + Fashion project.
MAY 2016 Guest speaker at Cass Art, artist talk and workshop with Winsor & Newton.
APRIL 2016 Featured artist in the ‘DAVID BOWIE: Oooh Fashion!’ exhibition at the V&A Museum.
MARCH 2016 Featured artist in ‘PRAYER TO SAINT THERESE’ for SHOWstudio’s online digital exhibition.
NOVEMBER 2015 Featured artist in ‘DECOY' Magazine.
NOVEMBER 2015 Featured artist in ‘EDUCATING PICASSO’ group exhibition, Espacio Gallery, London.
JANUARY 2016 Featured artist in ‘A BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS PT02’ group exhibition, Lethaby Building, London.
OCTOBER 2015 Featured artist in ‘A BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS PT01’ group exhibition curated by SHOWstudio.
OCTOBER 2015 Guest featured artist for SHOWstudio, illustrating Paris Fashion Week S/S 2016 collections.
MAY 2011 Featured illustrator in ‘DRAWING AND THE BODY’ group exhibition, Stockholm.
INDUSTRY WORK & PROJECTS
2013–Present – SHOWstudio – Guest Artist and Commentator.
2011–2016 – Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors – Golden Shears Awards Creative Director.
2008–2015 – George & Dragon Public House – Disc Jockey.
2008–2011 – Centre for Sustainable Fashion – Creative Director / Consultant.
2008–2011 – Fashioning the Future – Brand Creative Director, Consultant and Print Designer.
2006–2009 – Michela Carraro – Creative Consultant and Brand Advisor.
2005–2007 – Danielle Scutt – Editor in Chief / Creative Director.
2003–2007 – Fashion Forecast Magazine – Fashion Editor and Fashion Illustrator.
2004 – International Textiles Benjamin Dent Ltd – Contributing Artist.
2003–2007 – International Colour Authority – Fabric Stylist and Illustrator.
2001 – Camilla Staerk – Illustrator, Stylist and Colour Consultant.
2001 – White Diamond – Studio Designer.
2001–2003 – Alexander McQueen – Research, sourcing, idea development, illustration, embroidery, print and lace design, technical drawing, womenswear, menswear and accessory design and manufacture.
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