From racoons and llamas to giraffes and dogs, farm animals to endangered wildlife, dogs to beluga whales, Holly’s Ark is a veritable A to Z of British artist Holly Frean’s favourite creatures. "It features all the characters that have been keeping me company in the studio for the past year" says Holly.
Known for her witty, quirky portraits painted onto unusual surfaces (cardboard squares, paper plates, wooden palettes), her latest exhibition features several of Holly’s trademark multiple ink-on-paper animals, in which she presents a number of small, individual paintings as one work.
The exhibition also features 41 original illustrations made for her wallpaper and fabric designs for interior design house Andrew Martin, a selection of ceramic sculptural figures walking ‘two by two’ through the gallery, and some new characters, including the fated Dodo, join the collection.
Holly’s work has been exhibited extensively in the UK and America. Commissions include those from the Duchess of Northumberland, designer Betty Jackson, comedians Russell Howard and Ricky Gervais, actor Russell Tovey and retailer Johnny Boden. Holly's imaginative works have also led to textile, ceramic and wallpaper collaborations with Anthropologie, Burberry, Andrew Martin and Paul Smith.
Holly’s Ark runs from 3 to 24 November at Zimmer Stewart Gallery, and you can discover more of her work at hollyfrean.com.
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