Artist Biography

Thomas Graven (b. 1995) is a Dutch artist based in Dubai, UAE, working primarily with acrylic painting. His practice centers on landscape, memory, and place, expressed through surreal, semi-abstract compositions and vivid, saturated colour.

A 2007 visit to an Amsterdam gallery introduced Graven to the works of Murakami, Nara, and Rokkaku, sparking an interest in Kawaii Art and Asian culture that would increasingly influence his work. Graven’s early work focused on anthropomorphic frogs engaged in everyday human activities.  These carefree, joyful figures act as vessels for exploring childhood, vulnerability, and the artist’s inner world, often reflecting aspects of himself.

Graven is currently developing a series inspired by his home village of Les Issambres in southeast France, where he was raised. Rather than working from direct observation, he paints from memory, allowing familiar hills, houses, and trees to transform into simplified, dreamlike forms. This intuitive approach gives his landscapes a sense of emotional distance— somewhere between recollection and imagination.

He began painting in 2021 during the COVID-19 period, initially focusing on childhood memories before gradually shifting toward landscapes as a way of reconnecting with his roots. His work is characterized by soft gradients, bold palettes, and playful architectural elements that evoke both nostalgia and quiet optimism. Graven is an emerging artist with a promising future.