The Wick List

Viewing Shara Hughes at the Garden Museum

Shara Hughes has devoted her career to painting invented landscapes that ‘use every trick in the book to seduce’. Imagined hills, rivers, trees, shorelines and flowers executed in her signature palette of bold, clashing colours draw the eye across the canvas, challenging conventions of space and perspective.

For her first UK museum exhibition, presented in partnership with Pilar Corrias Gallery, the Brooklyn-based artist has created four site-specific flower paintings. The large-scale works show oversized orchids, dandelions and poppies as well as fantastical foliage conjured entirely from her imagination.

‘Generally, flowers have been seen as a symbol of beauty,’ Hughes explains. ‘When I first started working with flowers, I wanted to break that idea. And have them be seen as not just beautiful but as powerful and scary, something delicate but also something strong.’

To allow these works to evolve instinctively, Hughes approached the canvas with no expectations or judgements. The resulting paintings are a riot of colour and serve as intriguing portraits of the painter herself.

Share story
Dates
17 May 2021 — 05 June 2021
Further information
READ MORE
The Wick Culture - Street Corner Conversation, private collection. Image photograph courtesy of Colin Mills
The Wick List

Viewing Vanessa Bell at Charleston Lewes

The Wick Culture - Art Basel Hong Kong 2025. Art Basel Hong Kong. Image courtesy Art Basel
The Wick List

Viewing Art Basel Hong Kong

The Wick Culture - Arpita Singh, My Lollipop City. Gemini Rising 2005. Image credit Vadehra Art Gallery
The Wick List

Viewing Arpita Singh at Serpentine North Gallery

The Wick Culture - Nicole Farhi, Alfred Dreyfus, 2023
The Wick List

Viewing Nicole Farhi: J'Accuse at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery

The Wick Culture - Andy Warhol
The Wick List

Viewing The London Print Fair at Somerset House

The Wick Culture - Baseera Khan, Coppice Maroon Heart, 2025. Image courtesy of the artist and Niru Ratnam London. Photo by Greg Carideo.
The Wick List

Viewing Baseera Khan at Niru Ratnam