ART
ROXANA HALLS: APPETITE
By Alex Dymoke | Hay Hill Gallery
Playful, colourful, political, sharp, Roxana Halls’ paintings
offer intriguing insights into culture and counter-culture. From
the beauty queen taking a nibble out of a flower plucked from
her winner’s bouquet, to the glamorous female movie goer caught
masticating a piece of popcorn, her paintings have a political
bite belied by their candied aesthetic. The dramatic,
elaborately composed awkward moments subvert the demure poses
expected of women, and explicitly refer to recent controversies
such as the “Women who eat on tubes” Facebook group.
Frequently appearing in the National Portrait Gallery’s annual
exhibition of young painters’ work, and last year a finalist in
the Winter Pride International Art Award, Halls’ achievements
are especially impressive considering she’s mostly self taught.
For years Halls has painted in the disused bar of a 1930s
theatre. It was here that various sitters came to be painted for
Appetite. Halls painted actors Kelly-Anne Lyons and Leah Muller
as well as model Dani Smith. She also used self-portraiture.
Hay Hill Gallery 35 Baker Street, London W1U 8EN
020 7486 6006 Opening hours: Monday - Friday 10.30-6, Saturday
11-5
Artist Roxana Halls
in conversation with Nicola Jennings June 23, 2020
Video (15:49): Artist
Roxana Halls
in conversation with Nicola Jennings about laughter,
self-portraiture, and her work in relation to the art of Judith
Leyster, Rembrandt, Goya, Dürer and Giovanni Bellini. Video by
Colnaghi Foundation, 2020.
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