ABSEN

Halifax, Canada

Absen, (John McPartland, b. 1995) is a Canadian muralist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He began in graffiti, where he learned to use spray paint and developed a strong sense of compositional balance. Later, oil painting taught him to paint realism and light. Today, he combines both approaches to create large-scale murals that explore themes of nature, memory, and community. His works are often narrative, usually featuring people placed within scenes that tell a story. Absen uses realistic subject matter and complements it with abstract forms and textures to create cohesive compositions that engage viewers on multiple levels. He aims to make work that resonates with its environment, complimenting the surrounding architecture and local community. At the heart of his practice is an interest in relationships: between people, places, and ideas, and in the balance that connects them.