b1935-d2022.
Everyone has an artist who they hold near and dear to their heart; an artist who inspires and has an influence on their work. For me Paula Rego is one of those artists. It is not just that she uses dolls in her figurative compositions. It is the way she is able to navigate fantasy and reality and abstraction to create paintings that are complex, emotional and speak to a wealth of ideas. I was so sad to hear that she passed away this morning. I think deep down I always imagined being able to meet her in person before she died. I was heartbroken to miss the retrospective of her work at the Tate last year. Here is a Paula Rego painting that I am particularly fond of. Can you see how it connects with my own work?
Paula Rego “Fireman of Alijo”