Modern Oxford

The Oxford style was born in the mid-2000s after Palmer took a winter trip to London. After being moved by the history and formality of the British society during his journey, the paintings born in the aftermath contained a rigid structure. The canvas was often divided into quadrants with splashes of color (red, green, or yellow) in the center. The most tell-tale sign of the Oxford style is a background color of brown for all or part of the canvas. With the Classic Oxford style pieces, it is not uncommon to find a realistic trigger such as an arrow or a black-and-white checkerboard grid. With the Modern Oxford style, Palmer shows more fluidity and less structure. Lighter blues and purples appear. It’s similar to the evolution of the Modern Carnival style – as the artist matures, so does the confidence expressed through the style.