As the festive season fast approaches, the search for the perfect Christmas gift takes centre stage in our minds. While traditional presents hold sentimental value, there's a unique charm in giving a gift that transcends the ordinary, offering not just an object but an experience. This Christmas, consider stepping away from the predictable and exploring the world of art and editions – a thoughtful and sophisticated choice that goes beyond the realm of conventional gifts.
Choosing an artwork or a limited edition as a present can be an intimidating task, especially under the stress and urgency of Christmas shopping. This guide from RHODES Contemporary extends not only advice on picking out a special gift, but also offers a carefully selected collection of original artworks, prints and editions to choose from – each under £500.
Featured in the ongoing RHODES Contemporary Art exhibition ‘Origins: A Celebration of Paper,’ are Hannah Forward’s vibrant architectural paintings. She captures tranquil shots of modern architecture, transforming the backstreets of Los Angeles (2023) and the poolside deckchairs of Palm Springs (2023) into small moments of urban oasis. Depicted in joyfully vibrant colours and block forms, her paintings capture vividly the modern architecture, dazzling sunlight, and bohemian atmosphere of California. Forward is an exciting artist whose illustrations have been featured in the Guardian; her work was also selected for the Royal Academy Annual Summer Exhibition in 2018. Hannah Forward’s oil paintings on paper are available to purchase for £450 each here.
Hannah Forward Palm Springs 2023, oil on paper, 16 x 13.5 cm.
Thomas Stempel’s detailed monochrome drawings are created entirely by hand, drawn carefully with ink and compass. Inspired by natural landscapes and forms, Stempel’s signature monochrome style and linear technique is immediately recognisable in this special series of 3 drawings. Titled FRAGA 33, FRAGA 35, and FRAGA 24 (all created 2022), the pieces draw from the shape and silhouette of veined leaves. Delicate and sinuous, each work invites the viewer to take a moment to contemplate the beauty, intricacy, and tranquillity of these natural forms. This framed collection can be purchased as a set or individually, for £400 each.
Thomas Stempel FRAGA 33 2022, hand drawn ink on 270gsm paper, 27.9 x 21 cm.
Peter Larsen’s new etchings were created exclusively for the recently unveiled exhibition ‘Origins’ at RHODES. Night Cloak, and Dogs, (both 2023) are small, detailed, and etched in a shade of bold, brilliant green that catches the viewer’s eye, drawing us to his imaginative world. These prints depict playfully surreal illustrations that look like scenes straight out of a twisted storybook. As an artist, Larsen holds an uncanny ability to find laughter and whimsicality in the everyday – these little etchings turn the mundanity of walking the dog, or pulling on a winter coat, into moments of dreamlike wonder. Larsen’s work challenges the formality and seriousness of real-world, grown-up life – instead, he searches for the bizarre, the mysterious, and the mythological in the everyday. Night Cloak and Dogs are each available for purchase for £330 unframed, or £425 framed. Find Night Cloak, Dogs, and more work from Larsen at Rhodes Editions here.
Peter Larsen Untitled 4 (Dogs) 2023, etching printed in green, 35 x 25 cm.
Bohemian interior and still life scenes are constructed by Argentinian artist Flora Castiglia. Her works involve drawings and sketches over antiquarian book pages, lending a multimedia and textural tangibility to the scenes. These collaged pieces could bring a feeling of warmth and welcome to the corner of any home; the layered text and ink invites exploration and contemplation, complimented by Castiglia’s choices of deep, muted colour. Abstractly titled, mimicking the broken up lettering of their background book pages - RIG and As (2023) – are each available framed for £425. Find Flora Castiglia's work from RHODES Contemporary here.
Flora Castiglia As 2023, acrylic, pen, pencil, and tape on antiquarian book pag, 22.5 x 15cm.
Jenni Rope delves into the linear structures of flowers and their petals in her recent hand-printed silkscreen pieces, made exclusively for ‘Origins’ at RHODES. Sunflowers (2023) focuses on the essence of its titular bloom, depicted in textural brushstrokes that evoke their recognisably sunny shape and yellow colouring. Brought out in whimsical pink and vivid turmeric hues, the flowers are minimalist in form yet lively and full of movement. Rope’s signature style is continued in Rising (2023), captured in expansive, flowing brushstrokes that mimic the crest of a wave or a flower petal viewed up close. Shades of green, blue, and yellow ripple across the page in textural marks that evoke the intricacy of light and shadow playing across a water surface. Produced in a new, larger size, Rising and Sunflowers are each statement pieces that could compliment any space. Rope has exhibited widely in her native Finland as well as across the world, and has designed prints for brands including Marimekko, Vimma and Mum’s. Rising is available for purchase at £450, Sunflowers for £300.
Jenni Rope Rising 2023, silkscreen print, 84.1 x 59.4 cm.
Art has a remarkable ability to evoke emotions and ignite the imagination, presenting an opportunity for meaningful and memorable gift-giving this Christmas. This curated collection of new and exclusive works from RHODES Contemporary hopes to guide even the art-buying beginner through the possibilities of print techniques, mark-marking, and artistic expression, making the task of Christmas shopping a little less daunting.
Please contact RHODES Contemporary art at info@rhodescontemporaryart.com for more information on each of the works or artists, and check out ‘Origins: A Celebration of Paper’ for more artworks and limited editions.
