Misaki Parbrook

Crossing, 2025

Oil on canvas | Unframed: 130 x 220cm

‘This diptych shows a group of figures in a boat, surrounded by stylised waves. Painted in blue monochrome, the composition flows diagonally from top left to bottom right, creating a quietsense of movement. The figures were painted first, with the surrounding landscape shaped in response to them. This way of working reflects a broader interest in letting people define their environment, rather than existing within it. Visually, the piece draws from ukiyo-e prints – especially in its flattened space, strong outlines, and attention to rhythm and pattern.’ - Misaki Parbrook.

Misaki Parbrook is interested in composition, repetition, and figures. Her work often shows people in quiet, suspended moments, placed in minimal or stylised environments. She uses recurring motifs like circles and prefers limited colour palettes, often working in monochrome. Her work is influenced by Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e), especially in the handling of space and rhythm. She is drawn to creating a sense of distance or separation in her paintings – between people, forms or figures and their surroundings.

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