Curated by art historian and author Kate Bryan, the forthcoming exhibition will invite visitors to make their own drawings in response to those on display, emphasising the health and wellbeing benefits of art. <\/p>\n
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Charlie Mackesy started his career as a cartoonist for \u2018The Spectator\u2019 and an illustrator for Oxford University Press (Charlie Gray)<\/p>\n
Studies have shown that engaging in creativity can reduce depression, improve immunity and delay aging, with randomised trials on the mental health benefits of the arts concluding that regular singing, dancing, reading, crafts, and cultural pursuits reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress for people of all ages. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve loved Dulwich Picture Gallery ever since I biked past it when I was 19 and came in to have a look,\u201d said Mackesy, who lives local to the art institute. \u201cIt felt very special; kind but serious and beautiful. <\/p>\n
\u201cI never dreamt that one day I\u2019d be exhibiting my work at the Gallery. What a privilege. I really hope you enjoy visiting the exhibition and that it inspires you.\u201d <\/p>\n
Speaking about the resonance of Mackesy\u2019s work, Bryan, the curator, said: \u201cCharlie Mackesy is an astonishingly rare breed of artist. His distinct hand distils emotional and psychological messages into elegantly simple artwork. <\/p>\n
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The exhibition will run from 3 November 2026 \u2013 7 February 2027 (Charlie Mackesy)<\/p>\n
\u201cUniversally regarded across all ages and continents, we love it because it embraces our imperfections, gives gentle reassurance and reminds us there is power in vulnerability.\u201d <\/p>\n
Previously, Mackesy has said the conversations that unfold in his beloved book \u2013 about fear, courage, asking for help, and feeling lost \u2013 were drawn from real conversations he\u2019d had with his friends \u201cabout what life really means, what\u2019s important\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cAll four characters represent different parts of the same person,\u201d he told The Guardian in 2019, \u201cthe inquisitive boy, the mole who\u2019s enthusiastic but a bit greedy, the fox who\u2019s been hurt so is withdrawn from life, slow to trust but wants to be part of things, and the horse who\u2019s the wisest bit, the deepest part of you, the soul.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2018The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and The Horse\u2019 was published in 2019 and went on to become an international bestseller<\/p>\n
Announcing the exhibition, Jennifer Scott, director of Dulwich Picture Gallery, said: \u201cMackesy\u2019s drawings demonstrate the power of creativity to move, heal, comfort and connect us. We are overjoyed to welcome Mackesy\u2019s beautiful works and his inspiring message of hope.\u201d <\/p>\n
Mackesy\u2019s work has seen him collaborate with director Richard Curtis on the set of Love Actually to create a set of drawings for Comic Relief, and with Nelson Mandela on a lithograph project called The Unity Series. <\/p>\n