Contact

Menu

Will Teather’s Wunderkammer Exhibition at Waran’s Fine Art, Chelsea

Discover Wunderkammer, the Will Teather exhibition at Waran’s Fine Art in Chelsea, London. This richly imaginative body of work brings together British figurative painting, magical realism, theatrical detail, and the spirit of the cabinet of curiosities to create a contemporary art experience filled with illusion, symbolism, and wonder.

Waran’s Fine Art is proud to represent British figurative painter Will Teather and to have presented his solo exhibition, Wunderkammer, at our Chelsea gallery. This feature explores Teather’s artistic practice, the ideas behind the exhibition, and the distinctive blend of craftsmanship, imagination, and visual storytelling that defines his contemporary figurative art.

Will Teather, British Figurative Painter

Will Teather, born in 1980, is a British figurative painter based in Norfolk. Educated at Central Saint Martins and Chelsea College of Art and Design, he has developed a distinctive approach to contemporary painting that combines traditional technique, narrative invention, and a fascination with illusion.

His influences are wide-ranging and deliberately distinctive. Flemish still-life painting, Baroque drama, folklore, theatre, cinema, and literature all inform his visual language. From these sources, Teather creates scenes that combine precision with playfulness, spectacle with symbolism, and technical control with imaginative freedom.

Teather has exhibited widely across the UK and internationally, completed artist residencies in Britain and the United States, and has work held in public and private collections. He is also a musician, fronting a theatrical psychedelic rock band, a detail that reflects the same maximal, performative sensibility found in his paintings.

Wunderkammer Meaning, Cabinets of Curiosities and Contemporary Art

A Wunderkammer, often translated as a “room of wonders,” was a Renaissance forerunner of the modern museum. These cabinets of curiosities brought together rare, exotic, and mysterious objects to inspire curiosity and astonishment.

  • Natural specimens
  • Unusual artefacts
  • Scientific instruments
  • Works of art
  • Objects associated with myth, knowledge, and wonder

For Teather, the Wunderkammer offers a powerful way to explore contemporary figurative painting. Rather than presenting a physical cabinet of objects, the exhibition gathers a treasure house of images. Each painting becomes its own small world of illusion, detail, and ambiguity, together forming a modern cabinet of curiosities for the viewer to enter and interpret.

Inside Will Teather’s Wunderkammer Exhibition

At the centre of Wunderkammer is what Teather describes as “ontological ambiguity.” This is the unsettling and pleasurable moment when viewers are no longer certain what is real, what is staged, and how the visual illusion has been constructed.

His paintings are designed to hold viewers in that uncertainty. Baroque grandeur meets magical realism. Historical reference sits beside contemporary symbolism. Humour and unease often occupy the same canvas, creating a visual language that feels theatrical, cinematic, and richly layered.

The technical skill behind the work is central to its impact. Teather paints with a virtuosity that recalls the Old Masters, then redirects that craft toward the surreal. The closer you look, the stranger and more rewarding each image becomes. Works such as Transference, one of the most striking pieces in the series, reward slow and repeated viewing.

The result is a body of work that feels inventive, immersive, and accessible. These paintings entertain and provoke in equal measure, treating the viewer not as a passive spectator, but as an active participant in the visual drama.

E-mail
info@waransfineart.com
Phone
+44 (0) 020 3488 6268
Address
Waran’s Fine Art Gallery
302-304 Fulham Road
SW10 9ER

Anastasia Samorukova

Gallery Manager

Anastasia, a museum professional with over a decade of experience in managing established fine art collections and large-scale exhibitions worldwide, brings a dynamic perspective to London’s vibrant art scene. Committed to the highest museum standards, she expertly showcases modern and contemporary art across diverse mediums, ensuring each piece is displayed in an engaging and innovative manner. Passionate about collaborating with like-minded professionals and artists, she oversees the installation of Matisse’s ‘Dance’ and cares for and displays other artworks with equal proficiency. Her passion for art inspires her to explore its rich variety within Waran’s fine art thriving environment.

Jonathan de Rin

Non-Executive Director

The De Rin family have a deep-rooted passion for fine art, with a sophisticated private collection which has been meticulously built since 1670. Raised in the presence of Venetian art and Old Masters, Jonathan’s early exposure to art was shaped his family’s Chelsea-based gallery, once by appointment to the now King Charles. Over the years, he has developed a broad appreciation for a wide-range of art—from Impressionist and Modern to Contemporary works to an emerging interest in AI and interactive art installations. He is particularly aligned with Waran’s Fine Art for its commitment to working with living artists and supporting the next generation of artistic talent.

Marta B

Non-Executive Director

With a background in private equity and investor relations, Marta has over a decade of experience raising capital across different sectors.Marta’s passion for contemporary art is rooted in both personal interest and academic study holding a creative art degree. Her strong connections across the finance, art, and business worlds make her uniquely positioned at the intersection of cultural and capital investment.

Ellie Clarke

Creative Director

A Cambridge graduate Art Curator with a deep foundation in art history, Ellie brings a thoughtful and contemporary perspective to her work. Passionate about neo-pop art, she finds inspiration in its bold aesthetics and cultural commentary. As Waran’s Fine Art’s Creative Director, she thrives on collaborating directly with the artists in our roster, valuing the opportunity to explore their insights and creative visions. This connection between curation and creation fuels her approach to curation and artwork selection.

Dev Waran

Co-Founder

Dev Waran co-founded Waran’s Fine Art with a singular vision: to champion living artists and ensure they are recognised and rewarded during their creative journey—not just in retrospect. With a deep respect for artistic integrity and a keen understanding of the art market, Dev has created a gallery model that supports emerging talent through long-term partnerships and international exposure. His commitment to both artists and collectors redefines access to fine art, offering a more thoughtful, sustainable path to building meaningful collections.

Share this artwork

Artwork enquiry

Certificate of Authenticity

A certificate of authenticity (COA) is a document from an authoritative source that verifies the artwork’s authenticity. While many COAs are signed by the artist, others will be signed by the representing gallery or the printmaker who collaborated with the artist on the work. For secondary market works, authorized estates or foundations are often the issuing party.
 
COAs typically include the name of the artist, the details (title, date, medium, dimensions) of the work in question, and whenever possible an image of the work.
OK

Rarity classifications

Unique
One-of-a-kind piece.
 
Limited edition
The edition run has ended; the number of works produced is known and included in the listing.
 
Open edition
The edition run is ongoing. New works are still being produced, which may be numbered. This includes made-to-order works.
 
Unknown edition
The edition run has ended; it is unclear how many works were produced.
 
Our partners are responsible for providing accurate classification information for all works.
OK