‘Emma Forrester: Gilded Iznik’ Exhibition 8th – 22nd October

No Naked Walls is delighted to announce their latest exhibition with contemporary Still Life artist, Emma Forrester. ‘Gilded Iznik’ opens with a Meet-the-Artist event on Saturday 8th October. The show will be on display until Saturday 22nd of October. To attend the Opening Event, please contact No Naked Walls at info@nonakedwalls.co.uk.

Born in Stoke-on-Trent, a city shaped by pottery production, Emma’s paintings reflect a life-long appreciation of ceramics. Her Still Life subjects reference pottery items, and echo centuries of rich visual histories, lending a welcome familiarity to her scenes.

Iznik pottery, produced in 16th and 17th century north-western Turkey, lend their namesake to this particular exhibition. The artist found inspiration in these intricate, decorative ceramics from ancient Nicaea, following a recent visit to Turkey where she found herself immersed in the art and culture of Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

Early Iznik designs derived influence from 15th century Ming Porcelains, as the Ottoman court in Istanbul greatly valued Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. Combining traditional Ottoman arabesque patterns with Chinese elements, the blue and white tones gradually incorporated turquoise, cobalt, malachite and coral into their designs. Emma’s work also draws inspiration from traditional Chinese and Japanese vases, with blossom trees, Geishas, and spotted doves all appearing in her paintings. The artist harnesses this tension between the linear arabesques and her free-form botanical depictions to create a body of playful and beautiful pieces within the genre of still life paintings.

Through her work, Emma references the traditional subject matter that has occupied artists for centuries, whilst bringing a contemporary twist through her aim to convey energy and emotion in her work. Patterns overlap and merge to flatten out the picture plane, transforming a simply representational Still Life into delicately abstracted artwork, exuding balance and harmony. Petals burst from the confines of the vases’ edges – breathing new life into these ancient vessels. Emma works in an expressive style to capture a liveliness within everyday objects, and each painting is graced by the artist’s use of bright and uplifting colours, which contribute to a sense of a whimsical liveliness within her work.

Suiting a range of interiors, both modern and traditional, Emma’s work nestles seamlessly into many existing art collections. The artist’s rich colour palette lends a warm, inviting feel to home interiors – whilst the glistening metallic accents assure that the paintings make an impact on the space. Reflective qualities interact with the lighting in your home, complementing the transition from dawn to dusk, and glimmer even in low-lit conditions.

Emma’s ornate subjects are treasured features in the homes of many collectors, and presents a quirky, understated charm. Visit No Naked Walls to experience Emma’s paintings, and add a luxurious sparkle to your walls.