Squares 2025

Open to young or old, professional or hobbyist, abstract or surrealist, and every artist in between, Squares is Strathnairn Arts’ annual community art competition.

Both my friend Lexi and I entered artworks in this competition for the first time in 2025. My painting is named after a dance work choreographed by my brother, 'An Evening-length Performance'.

The work includes references to many of the themes I am interested in exploring in my other creative work: performance, queerness, the aesthetics of identity, decorative objects as an extension of self, and of course art making.

In painting this work, I drew inspiration from rococo architecture, ornate prosceniums, the fashion design of Alessandro Michele for Gucci and Valentino, costumes worn by Chappell Roan and Florence Welch, various sculpture, art and decorative objects and texts that have been influential to me. Both my cats, Luna and Artemis also make an appearance along with various objects from my home.

I used all sides of the canvas which you can see in these images below. I was also interested in layering paint and colour and in using various metallic paints that glisten in the light.

This painting is currently on exhibition at Strathnairn Arts from the 28 June, 2025.