‘‘I’ve been working with pyrotechnics since university, an educational path which was imposed on me by the UK court system instead of a prison sentence in 2009. Since then I received my college diploma in Art & Design then went on to graduate university in 2017 with a BA in Fine Art and a MA in Creative Business & Innovation’’.
Marcus Dove utilises pyrotechnics in his work to address ‘creation via destruction'; a dogma originally introduced by Pablo Picasso, who has been a major influence on Dove's since the beginning of his career. Whether it be large scale abstract work or figurative paintings on canvas, the artists mark-making process relies deeply on media such as gunpowder, smoke grenades and other forms of explosive material to either communicate a narrative of growth through life's lessons or the naturally destructive nature of the universe.
In the same year of graduation Dove exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery in London which later allowed him to show his work at the Asia Contemporary Art Fair in Hong Kong and was commissioned by De Montfort University to commemorate Baroness Doreen Lawrence, OBE.
Since graduation the pyrotechnical artist has been featured on the BBC News several times and within various press due to his artistic process and has had various solo exhibitions such as ‘Fading Figures’ which consisted of paintings depicting the female form by scorching colour into the canvas with smoke grenades and was listed as a Top 5 exhibition to see in London in 2019 by World of FAD magazine. Most recently his abstract work-based solo exhibition ‘Raw Language’ took place in Mayfair, London, with Karnik Gallery in 2022 as well as his latest show 'Abstract Entropy' in 2023 at Mayfair's 12 Hay Hill with J Nicholls Projects.
Recent collaborations with Yinka Shinobare had nationwide success, applying his methods to 3D sculpture for the World Reimagined project.
As well as his art practice Marcus also works in the arts department at Pedestrian, a charity which focuses on pioneering talent in young people at risk such as young offenders, refugees and vulnerable adults who are often socially excluded or experiencing disadvantage.