After traveling the world with Cross Road Blues (2016–2020), British photographer Oli Kellett returns to London with a new project, Fountains, captivated by an almost invisible detail: the tiny droplets of water lifted from the fountains of Trafalgar Square, dancing in the air before vanishing.
Blurring the line between art and photography, Kellett uses a telephoto lens to transform these suspended particles into ethereal images, where wind, light, and chance become essential elements of the composition. The result is a visual play reminiscent of Impressionist and Pointillist painting, echoing Seurat, Monet, and Whistler. “I watched the droplets, almost weightless and at the mercy of the slightest breeze, magical as they dispersed into the crowd,” the artist recalls.
Oli Kellett’s Artistic Journey
Trained at Central Saint Martins, Kellett has always explored the relationship between individuals and urban space. While in Cross Road Blues he captured people waiting at traffic lights, here his focus shifts to an inanimate and unpredictable subject, allowing the environment to dictate the shot. This approach—balancing control and spontaneity—has earned him accolades such as the Rose Award for Photography and the Royal Academy Arts Club Award.
With Fountains, Kellett continues his exploration of the everyday, transforming a simple urban detail into a work that challenges perception and celebrates the unpredictability of reality.
From March 28 to May 17, 2025, Fountains will be on display at HackelBury Fine Art.
