In celebration of International Women's Day, it is essential to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of female artists who have shaped and enriched the cultural landscape throughout history. Despite facing considerable obstacles, including gender discrimination, societal constraints, and limited access to formal training and critical resources, women artists have persistently broken barriers and forged new paths in the art world.
From the Renaissance period, where figures like Artemisia Gentileschi defied the norms of her time to become a celebrated painter, to the modern era, where artists like Frida Kahlo and Georgia O'Keeffe have become icons of resilience and creativity, the legacy of female artists is both profound and transformative. These trailblazers have not only redefined artistic expression but have also challenged the stereotypes and expectations placed upon women in society. Their work encompasses a diverse array of styles, mediums, and themes, reflecting their unique perspectives and experiences.
As we celebrate International Women's Day, let us acknowledge the contributions of female artists, whose creativity and strength continue to inspire and empower generations. Their stories and achievements underscore the importance of inclusivity and diversity in the arts, reminding us of the boundless potential that exists when all voices are heard and valued. We would like to take a moment to spotlight the extraordinary talents of the female artists we are honoured to work with at RHODES.
Camille Cottier
Cottier’s ‘Les Bonshommes’ series was born as she began to question her relationship between herself and the people around her - interrogating where her representation situated her position in society largely contributed to her interests in identity and form. These figures have evolved throughout the past ten years to have a more abstract expression as this gives her more freedom to redefine bodies in a way that is both human and other worldly, monstrous and delicate.
Proving both painful and sweet, Cottier believes that women artists experience less access to the art world and so they need to work harder to break glass ceilings and be noticed in the industry. She has seen a movement for female artists to be as visible as men, but it will only be proven to be fact when we no longer need to mention the gender of the artist.
Camille Cottier
Les Bonshommes, 2023
Signed on Reverse
Acrylic on Canvas
81 x 60 cm
31 7/8 x 23 5/8 in
Delia Hamer
Drawing on the mythological and religious in her works, Hamer’s subconscious sits between the lines of biblical messages and the tales of old.
These dreamscapes of a forgotten time usually feature a female figure that is depicting the human soul with rawness and vulnerability - their eyes closed to seclude them from the harshness of the outside world. These rich landscapes, infused with her inner psyches, mirror Hamer’s memories and circumstances. She implores for the viewers to find a mutual understanding in her works. Hamer asks us to find a connection between ourselves and her pieces, and to then interrogate ourselves to find out why we have encountered this shared experience.
27 1/2 x 39 3/8 in
ces mccully
In McCully’s paintings, she depicts figures with square bodies and block like features; with triangular designs often framing the scene. Red tulips are a repeated motif in these works, commonly used to suggest passion, new beginnings, and feminine beauty – which furthers her focus on female relationships. McCully is particularly interested in the juxtaposition of shapes and the power of negative spaces in creating a narrative. By placing simple forms and tones in harmonious relationships, McCully aims to reflect the essence of simple beauty.
31 1/2 x 39 3/8 in
Yool Kim
In her mixed-media artworks, Yool Kim navigates and explores the ideas of identity and subconsciousness. Her maximalist approach expresses a series of fast-paced thoughts and emotions. Flowing and overlapping, her work comes together in a chaotic mix that represent personal yet almost universal human experience.
Among diverse bright colours, patterns of dots, stripes and diamond-shaped grids appear playful cartoonish faces with distinct set of three eyes, two button-like noses and a pair of two small mouths. They, as Yool Kim explains, highlight self-expression and inner thoughts that, unlike her physical body, have not matured yet and are stunted in growth. Two mouths are the only indicators of emotions and often represented them differently – reminiscing about ambiguity.
46 x 35 3/4 in
MORAG CAISTER
Using figuration to explore the contemporary nude, Morag Caister explores existential concepts through expressive suggestion, portraits, and narrative.
In these intimate settings, Caister uses a repetition in the mark-making of her pieces which when paired with her thoughtful use of colour, which is applied sparingly yet effectively, really breathes life into her portraits, resulting in vivid and dynamic representations.
Her figures are framed with loose brushwork to draw the viewers attention to the way our bodily compositions and posture display our emotions and how our faces betray us by bringing our sentiments to the centre stage. Here, she is asking us to consider that even in our most private moments, we are often closer to each other than we think.
Framed
51 1/8 x 38 5/8 in
Camilla Perkins
With an emphasis on delicate beauty and serenity, Camilla Perkins’ artistic expressions capture the tranquil essence of nature, blossoming flowers and gardens. Her work also delves into the intricate bonds between women and their families, delicately exploring the profound connections between mothers and daughters. Against the ethereal backdrop of the British countryside, these themes resonate deeply with the artists herself. In her art practice, Perkins uses vibrant oil pastels and paint to achieve a surreal colour palette. Combined with bold and dynamic brushwork, Perkins deliberately employs thick and visible strokes, reminiscent of post-impressionist tradition, to create dreamscapes and still-lives brimming with texture. Her large-scale oil paintings of gardens bursting with life are filled with pattern and almost invite the viewer to step right into them.
Camilla Perkins
Jumping into the River at Barcombe, 2023
Framed
19 3/4 x 27 1/2 in
Cat Spilman
Cat Spilman is a contemporary abstract artist, born in New York. Spilman works primarily with house paint, which was a natural choice for her. Having come from a career as a Scenic Artist for film and television, she had worked with it for years. The thick paint creates beautiful textures and adds depths to her work, while the brushstrokes produce unique patterns within themselves.
Spilman made a conscious decision to limit her colour palette, finding two tones which worked together well. By doing so, the artist allows the true focus of the work to be in the composition and energy. She also explains that she never pre-plans her works, rather they are fluid and natural, pouring out of her onto the canvas.
The raw and cathartic creative process allows Spilman to discover a lot about herself both, as a person and an artist. Each works helps to understand her emotions and feeling better, becoming an exceptional result of self-exploration; an abstract self-portrait.
39 3/8 x 31 1/2 in
CATHY TABBAKH
Cathy Tabbakh is a French Contemporary artist, currently living and working in the UK. Her colourful work collides imaginary forms with existing landscapes, through the use or architectural and botanical elements, creating bold, bright, sometimes surreal imagery.
Tabbakh’s still-life works show her desire to surround herself with green spaces combined with her love for interior design. Since lockdown, she has been focusing on still lifes and the shadows they create, working on the simplicity of a composition based on light, introducing a link with time itself within the painted scene. Tabbakh mainly uses pots, vases, plants and surreal objects from her home - lockdown pushed her to simply look around and find inspiration in the everyday objects that can easily be forgotten.
Framed in Wood
11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in
Grace tobin
Grace Tobin is a contemporary American painter, who has spent the last few years working in London. Through her works, Tobin investigates our relationships to the environments we inhabit and the way these connections impact our sense of self. Her practice circles the idea of space, documenting the physical and emotional impact it has on forming our identity. Tobin is interested in the semiotic value we place on our surroundings. She re-imagines how our space mirrors the psychological and physiological connections we create in our world.
Framed
7 7/8 x 11 1/4 in
CHRISTINA ZIMPEL
Utilising humour and satire themes, Christina Zimpel’s work translates her childhood memories from the 60s and 70s into expressive paintings of unusual women. Focusing on the topic of performance, Zimpel takes particular interest in how people deal with this idea of constant presentation. Theatrical clothing and luscious hair give her work a dramatic atmosphere where there is nowhere to hide, as her intense brushstrokes leave her subjects fully exposed.
The women in Zimpel’s works are depicted in unusual forms - suggesting a not quite perfect, otherworldly image. This is a feeling that she is familiar with as society and social media rapidly and continuously change the norms and ideas of the ‘feminine’. These observations of her daily life infiltrate her work as even her colour palettes in her pieces are subversive rather than soft and feminine, bringing back the glam and love of punk rock from her youth.
Framed
16 7/8 x 14 in
