The latest exhibition by Jack Davison, Portraits: 14–16 November, is now on view at Cob Gallery from March 6th to April 4th, 2026. Renowned for his unique approach to portraiture, Davison unveils a compelling new collection of ninety monochrome portraits crafted using the hands-on printmaking technique of photopolymer gravure.
Conceived as the first chapter of an ongoing project, the exhibition reflects Davison’s enduring fascination with the human face. The series comprises ninety individual portraits which explore fleeting expressions and subtle psychological presence. They capture people in quiet, almost suspended moments between gestures.
Portrait photography: an intimate study of the human face
At the heart of the exhibition is Jack Davison’s ongoing exploration of portrait photography. Shot in London over three days—from November 14 to 16—the series was created with casting director Coco Wu, who street-cast participants across the city.
Rather than documenting London itself, Davison focuses on faces that seem suspended in time. By omitting the year from the title, he allows the portraits to exist outside a fixed historical moment. Cropped tightly to the head and shoulders and rendered in stark black and white, the images emphasise expression, bone structure, and sculptural light. Many sitters wear a simple hood that conceals their hair, removing visual markers of fashion or era and directing attention entirely to the face.
Photopolymer gravure: transforming photography into physical objects
A defining element of the project is photopolymer gravure, a process that transfers photographic images onto light-sensitive plates before printing them on a press. For Jack Davison, this process transforms digital photographs into tangible objects, with subtle variations in ink and texture adding depth and a subtle intensity to each portrait.
The high-contrast printing process accentuates the dramatic interplay of light and shadow that is characteristic of Davison’s work. This process echoes visual references ranging from Ingmar Bergman’s penetrating close-ups to the distorted visages of Francis Bacon and the reductive sculptural thinking of Alberto Giacometti.
The exhibition also marks the launch of a new publication produced by Davison’s print press, Helions, and designed by Matt Willey. Documenting the full series, the book inaugurates an evolving project that will continue across cities worldwide. With its understated elegance, Portraits: 14–16 November establishes Davison as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary portraiture.
Photography by JACK DAVISON
