Surrender to the Rhythms

 SOLO SHOW

Muse Gallery, 269 Portobello Road, London W11 1LR
30 November to 23 December 2023

I am excited to share with you a glimpse of my solo show in London. I'm well aware that a trip to the big smoke is not always an option and I'm so thrilled with the show that I wanted to give you a flavour of how the Countryside came to the City. 

​Several of these photos were taken by my close friend Leila Godden and it has been very special to see the exhibition through her eyes and other visitors. If you managed to visit, please share your own experiences with me.
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You will appreciate that it's impossible to really capture, in just a few photos and recordings, the atmosphere of Portobello Road and the calm, contemplative space we created, but hopefully this will give you an insight. When something has existed in your head for so many months and suddenly it's real, well that's quite overwhelming. To say I am thrilled would be an understatement - I wished I could move in and keep it a while. A huge thank you to Damian, Gosia, Michael and Eleni for giving me this fantastic opportunity to showcase my work and drawing practice.

Settle in with a cup of coffee for a gentle 9 minute wander through the Gallery or scroll down for a selection of stills and further information - this is intended as a long slow closeup look, an archive for my records. As with all things nature ... take your time

(for the best impact I recommend you view this video on a tablet or larger) 

"What a haven in the hubub of the Portobello Road! It was so beautifully presented with all the things you love amongst the most extraordinary drawings. You re-create what you are looking at, this is so different from a photograph. I keep thinking of where you are going next. Your drawings are scattered jewels."

"Photographs absolutely cannot do this show justice. Sensitive, considered and exquisite. If you need a grounding moment of blissful quiet then make a beeline here before it closes" 

"There are so many things worth having a closer look at. I really enjoyed my visit and particularly having plenty of time for some quiet contemplation. Your exhibition is a little oasis of loveliness in The Muse Gallery - a perfect venue for it"

The show blurb said:

Known for her intricate observations of Flora and Fauna, Louisa invites you to glimpse inside her drawing practice.

“I am beginning to develop a language of immediacy, working outside and relinquishing control to the elements and found materials: drawing with ink and grass while lying quietly in a sunny meadow, listening to nature, surrendering to the moment. 

I have spent 12 years slowly developing my practice, controlling my environment and choosing pin sharp pencils, ultra smooth paper, the right light to see and capture the things I want to share. Seducing you into my world and asking you to look a little closer at what I have noticed, always informed by my time outside as a gardener, a walker, an observer. 

I’m a Collector and my studio is reminiscent of an old school nature table, reminders of my walks and the things that catch my eye. Delving into my craft roots I explore tools and techniques, sometimes for the sheer joy of solving problems. These sit in the studio waiting for their moment in the spotlight, catching my eye as I work.

But always I return to the quiet observations, moments in time delicately captured in graphite as the season dictates.”

You are invited to explore Louisa's world

For more detailed information about each artwork, click on the images below:

< Coming to Light

A Year Outside >