Embraced: A Lived Experience : Group Exhibition
RHODES presents Embraced, a group exhibition featuring thirteen ultra-contemporary artists whose primary focus is painted portraiture with a profound focus on the human body.
Embraced explores the intricacies of the human form, offering a nuanced perspective on intimacy by capturing fleeting moments that reveal the essence of the subjects' lives.
Through the presented works, the exhibition seeks to re-examine identity in portraiture by centring on the human body as a canvas for individual stories, delving into the complexities of emotions, relationships, and personal narratives, using the human form as a conduit for expressing the universal aspects of the human experience.
The collection of works in Embraced explore how contemporary portraiture can communicate emotional depth and resonance through the depiction of the human body, highlighting the body as a vessel for storytelling and self-expression. The power of subtle gestures, poses, and expressions and how these communicate intimacy. The exhibition features works that capture the vulnerability and authenticity of the human form, inviting viewers to connect with the subjects on a visceral level.
Embraced asks the viewer to reflect on their own bodily experiences and engage with the subjects on a philosophical level and confront the authenticity of their own experiences.
Full list of featured artists:
Javiera Gart, Delia Hamer, Camille Cottier, Pace Taylor, Kitty Rice, Adelisa Selimbašić, Diana Ruban, Elina Ojakangas, Morag Caister, Jasper Hagenaar, Peter Doyle, Megan Menzies and Caroline Walls.
For more information or to register your interest, please email info@rhodescontemporaryart.com
About the Artists
Javiera Gart
Currently residing and working in Australia, Javiera Gart was born and educated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she began her self-taught artistic journey. Gart’s extensive travels allow her to draw inspiration from diverse local cultures, incorporating these influences into her work. As Gart embarks on a voyage of hypersensitivity through the study of colour, she aims to capture both the visible elements of the cultures she encounters and the deeper emotional stories of everyday life. Gart’s practice reflects the dichotomy of feeling alone even when surrounded by others, exploring the subtleties of human emotion and connection. Through her paintings, she seeks to uncover new perspectives on identity, offering her work as a source of comfort and collective projection. Javiera Gart’s goal is to use painting as a medium to provide containment and a shared vision, encouraging viewers to find solace and insight in the rich tapestry of human experience.
After exhibiting in shows such as the 2022 Mural exhibition in Uruguay and the 2023 Group market show in Gallery 3, Australia, Gart has received the 2022 Female Argentinian Muralists Award and been on residencies at the Lollapalooza International music festival and the Selina mural residence in México.
Delia Hamer
Delia Hamer is a German painter who grew up in the South of Spain. Her Mediterranean upbringing influences her vibrant colour palettes and key motifs, such as palm trees, agaves, oranges, grapefruit, and terracotta vases. Hamer studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan and completed her Masters at UAL in London. She now lives and works in Amsterdam.
Hamer's work draws heavily on mythological and religious themes, creating dreamscapes that blend biblical messages with ancient tales. Her paintings often feature female figures representing the human soul with rawness and vulnerability, their eyes closed to shield them from the outside world. These figures, set against rich landscapes infused with her memories, invite viewers to find mutual understanding and connection.
Exhibiting a tension between religion and mythology, Hamer's work is described as a retreat into the Garden of Eden. She has showcased her art in several solo exhibitions, including ‘Do Sand-clocks Dream of the Wind?’ (2022), ‘Fluye sin cesar’ (February 2024), and ‘Rinse my Soul’ (2024). Additionally, she has participated in group shows at RHODES, Le Reservoir Gallery in Paris, and Plato Gallery in Evora.
Camille Cottier
Camille Cottier is a French artist born in 1990 in Paris, she graduated from Beaux-Arts in 2013. She lives and works in Paris.
Her first works demonstrate research into the physical and possessive limits of the body (her own and that of others). In photos, videos, or drawings, her own face becomes the creative support. She will also work with actors to capture distorting stage expressions through very large drawings.
From 2014, she began an instinctive and obsessive work called ‘Les Bonshommes’, a vast series of full-length portraits of men or women, almost identical, facing us. These characters proliferate and question the relationship with oneself and with others.
Lately, it redefines itself through painting in a representation that is human.
Melancholy is significant here. Together or alone, monstrous and delicate at the same time, these characters remain the reassuring support of an evolving painting.
In his recent work, the bright colours contrast with the tangle of bodies, which seem too heavy to move. Sometimes dreamy, sometimes melancholic, these figures are an ode to long time and slow gestures. Observing them, we also want to let ourselves go into a gentle torpor.
Camille Cottier has produced several personal and group exhibitions in Paris and also in London. She has also participated in several fairs in France and Belgium.
Pace Taylor
Pace Taylor is an artist who explores the nuances of intimacy through their evocative drawings. Utilising found photographs of presumed queer individuals from past decades, Taylor reimagines these images, layering them with soft pastels and graphite to create new, emotionally charged memories. Their work blurs the lines of time and appearance, transforming bodies into both focal points and indistinct, vibrant silhouettes.
Graduating with a BFA in Digital Arts from the University of Oregon in 2015, Taylor has showcased their art in various esteemed venues such as Nationale in Portland, Double V Gallery in Paris, and La Loma Projects in Los Angeles. Their creative journey includes prestigious residencies like the Ford Family Foundation’s Golden Spot Residency at Caldera and the Don Bachardy Fellowship at the Royal Drawing School in London. In 2022, they were honoured with an Individual Artist Fellowship from the Oregon Arts Commission.
Taylor's art is characterised by its quiet vulnerability and deep queerness, inviting viewers to project their own experiences and emotions. They currently reside in Portland, and have exhibited internationally in cities such as Paris, New York and Los Angeles.
Kitty Rice
Kitty Rice is a British painter based in South London. After completing the post-graduate program at the Royal Drawing School, Rice has delved into themes of feminine strength as perceived through a child's perspective. Her work also contemplates the power of erasing and editing emotional history.
Rice employs watercolour and gouache to create her pieces, capturing a duality of memory that fluctuates between blurry and hyper-realistic styles. Her paintings feature vivid observations and dream-like visions, balancing meticulous detail with moments of spontaneous release. By skilfully manipulating her medium, Rice brings forth a unique visual language that reflects both the clarity and ambiguity of remembered experiences.
Rice has exhibited across London in exhibitions such as the ‘Best of the Drawing Year’ group show at Christie’s Auction House and ‘In Dream in Colour’ at Greatorex St. Studios. As well as this, she has also taken part in multiple exhibitions in Mexico, such as the ‘Women on the Edge of Time’ show in 2019.
Adelisa Selimbašić
Adelisa Selimbašić is a Bosnian-Italian artist currently based in Milan, Italy. Her work intricately weaves everyday female representations with dreamlike elements, creating a unique tension. This is further emphasised by her use of colour, which, after careful observation, is intensified to lend a sculptural tactility to her surfaces.
Since relocating to Milan in early 2020, Selimbašić’s palette has become more vibrant, serving her goal of shifting perceptions of the female body. Her paintings challenge conventional views by offering a perspective shaped by the female gaze. This viewpoint highlights the natural, imperfect beauty of naked women and the erotism they exude, questioning societal norms regarding female nudity in public spaces. Selimbašić’s exploration of gender is not overtly political but aims to raise awareness about female identity and sexuality. She seeks to redefine the concept of gender and the perception of the body as a passive entity marked by it.
Selimbašić has exhibited in various exhibitions in Italy such as in her solo show ‘Perché è così difficile dichiararsi?’ in 2023/24 and at IPERCUBO gallery in 2022.
Diana Ruban
Diana Ruban is a Ukrainian artist whose vibrant works explore the depths of the human soul. Living and working in her birthplace, Diana draws inspiration from the intricate tapestry of life, weaving narratives rich with emotion and personal experience.
Her art delves into the inner world, capturing the intimate landscapes of feelings and reflections. By examining how external factors shape one's worldview, Diana's work reveals the subtle connections between individuals and their surroundings.
Using a vibrant palette, Diana's canvases mirror the complexities of human experience and societal challenges. Her art serves as a vessel for addressing societal issues, reflecting her commitment to raising awareness through her creative expression.
Diana Ruban's work transcends the canvas, offering profound explorations of the human condition. Her ability to evoke deep emotions and address societal concerns marks her as a significant voice in contemporary art. Through her compelling visual narratives, Diana invites audiences to connect with universal themes and embark on a journey of introspection and empathy.
Ruban has been a part of many group shows internationally, as well as solo shows, such as the ‘Eclipsed Visions: Contemporary Perspectives by Women Artists’ exhibition at the Galerie REVEL in France, earlier this year.
Elina Ojakangas
Elina Ojakangas is a Swedish-Finnish painter and graduate of Gerleborgsskolan School of Fine Art in Stockholm. Her captivating portrayals delve into the complexities of identity and melancholy. Through emotive personifications, she explores her own interpretations of these themes.
Transforming memories and emotions into warped, circular scenes, Ojakangas' works offer autobiographical glimpses into her emotional landscape. Her approach is deliberate, lending her expressive figures to a surrealistic genre where subjects are carefully analysed and reconstructed.
Ojakangas' art presents dramatic imagery that contrasts with the underlying dysthymia she aims to express. Each piece serves as a window into her emotional experiences, inviting viewers to contemplate the intricate relationship between identity and melancholy.
Ojakangas has exhibited in multiple shows such as the ‘Figurative: Fact or Figurative?’ and ‘6 MINI SOLO SHOWS’ in Australia.
Morag Caister
Morag Caister is a British artist based in London, known for her exploration of the contemporary nude through expressive figuration. Graduating from the University of Brighton with a BA in Painting in 2019, Caister captures existential concepts through emotive suggestion, portraiture, and narrative.
Drawing inspiration from sittings, she intricately depicts subjects with emotive lines, emphasising their essence. Her use of repetition in mark-making and thoughtful colour application creates vivid representations. Caister's portraits prompt reflection on our interconnectedness, revealing emotional depth through bodily composition and facial expressions. Rooted in affection and human experience, her work fosters a close affinity with viewers, inviting them to connect with portrayed personalities.
Caister's talent has gained recognition, with her work featured in esteemed collections like the National Gallery and Soho House. Winning Sky Art’s Portrait Artist of the Year TV series and earning commissions solidify her position as a rising talent, earning nominations for Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe: Art & Culture and a place in the Evening Standard's Art Power List 2023.
Jasper Hagenaar
Jasper Hagenaar, a painter from the Netherlands, finds solace in his studio where he adheres to a structured daily routine. Working meticulously on planned paintings, he seeks to capture the unexpected moments that breathe life into his practice, finding them to be the most gratifying aspect. While he paints swiftly, Hagenaar places equal importance on the process of selecting which pieces will endure.
Utilising oil and acrylic, Hagenaar draws inspiration from found images and small-scale models crafted within his studio. His works, often imbued with melancholy, explore themes of boyhood imagination, nostalgia, intimacy and subtly sinister mise-en-scènes.
Over the past decade, Hagenaar has transitioned from large-scale canvases to smaller wooden panels and canvases, intensifying his subjects within the parameters of still life. Notably, he was an artist in residence at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten (2004–05) and received the Dutch Royal Award for Painting in 2012.
Peter Doyle
Peter Doyle, an Irish artist now residing in London, possesses a unique style characterised by a naive bravery. Working primarily in acrylic on canvas, his compositions feature pastel tones and patterns, serving as backdrops for his remarkable depictions of everyday life. Often showcasing recurring motifs of women, horses, and flowers, he reinvents the still life with a charming intimacy. Describing his approach as 'casual', Doyle's immediate and instinctually candid mark-making style reflects his background in graffiti rather than formal art education.
His collection comprises provocative compositions capturing snapshots of his travels abroad and friends amidst distorted Dublin motifs. Immediate and impressive, his work stands out for its courageous and expressive nature, offering refreshing contrast to traditional art school techniques.
In 2022, Doyle’s work was featured in ‘Thick Spit!’ at Hang Tough Contemporary, Dublin, alongside group exhibitions such as ‘NEW NOW: Part 2’ at Guts Gallery, London, and ‘Pelle’ at Galleria Patricia Armocida, Milan. His contributions also extended to ‘Show Stopper’ at Saatchi Gallery, London, in 2022.
Megan Menzies
Megan Menzies, born in Essex, UK, and based in London, is an emerging artist with an MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art and a BA in History of Art from the University of Bristol. Her paintings capture uncanny moments, exploring memory and personal experience through drawing, painting, and writing. Menzies focuses on ordinary moments with a heavy, melancholic quality, often returning to motifs like the blushing cheek to delve into themes of sensitivity and vulnerability.
Before painting, she engages in crucial charcoal drawing sessions, allowing thoughts and imagination to flow freely. These sketches inspire narratives that inform her paintings. Her work, characterised by dreamlike spaces and translucent oil paint layers, invites viewers to explore layers of memory and feeling.
Menzies has exhibited in prestigious showcases like 'NOW' at Huxley Parlour and 'A Matter of Perspective' at Liliya Gallery, both in London in April 2023. She was also a ‘Now Introducing’ Prizewinner at Studio West Gallery in 2022 and received the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant in 2021. Menzies's evolving artistic journey promises exciting developments in the contemporary art scene.
Caroline Walls
Caroline Walls is a versatile visual artist, proficient in oil painting, drawing, and sculpture. Her figurative works delve into a shared realm of emotional intimacy, where women are depicted in various degrees of concealment and revelation. Drawing from her own experiences, Walls explores womanhood and female identity, inspired by different stages of her life, including finding love, undergoing fertility treatment, birthing a child, and exploring her sexuality.
Her artistic journey began with an Honours degree in Visual Communication and Design at Swinburne University of Technology. She then ventured abroad, spending extensive time in London and New York, delving into the realms of fashion art direction and design. Upon returning to Australia, Walls pursued post-graduate studies in contemporary visual arts at the Victorian College of the Arts. Now based in Melbourne, Australia, she continues her art practice from her studio, drawing inspiration from her diverse experiences and surroundings.
Walls's solo exhibitions have garnered acclaim, including ‘Touching From A Distance’ and ‘A Thread To Find’, both showcased at James Makin Gallery in Melbourne in 2024 and 2023.