‘Power And Excess In Soho’ is a striking portrait by Lincoln Townley, capturing the essence of a banker who unapologetically pushes boundaries in the vibrant and hedonistic heart of London's Soho. With thick, impasto layers of paint, Townley gives the portrait a visceral quality, as if the figure is almost emerging from the canvas itself.

The bold texture, created by heavy application of oil paint, enhances the raw intensity of the subject’s expression, emphasising both their power and the excess that defines their existence. The banker is presented as a figure of authority, yet one who is immersed in the seductive chaos of Soho’s nightlife, blurring the lines between control and indulgence. The use of impasto brings a sense of depth and urgency to the piece, capturing the tension between ambition and hedonism that defines the financial world’s more playful side.

Set to be featured in the 2026 La Biennale in Venice, ‘Power and Excess in Soho’ serves as a key piece in Townley’s new collection, which explores the complex intersections of wealth, power, and excess. The work reflects not just the allure of the financial elite but also the darker, more complex layers beneath their polished facades.

Soho, with its neon-lit streets and notorious reputation, serves as the perfect backdrop for this portrayal of a banker who seeks both success and escape in equal measure. Townley’s choice of impasto technique heightens the emotional resonance of the portrait, giving viewers a tangible sense of the banker’s internal world—one that is as intense and layered as the thick strokes of paint that define the piece. This powerful work will undoubtedly captivate audiences at the Biennale, offering a raw and unfiltered look at the human side of financial power.