Member Clare O’Leary entered an open call for the Green and Stone Summer exhibition, which is a prestigious gallery in Chelsea, London.
She’s been long listed from thousands of entries with only 200 artists / pieces chosen to be long listed – Summer Exhibition 2026 | Green and Stone Ltd.
Breaking out – The Context Behind Clare’s Painting
Plants can not be contained and will find a way through what man has created. I chose my palette to reflect this idea. The plants come towards you unrestrained, freeing themselves from the hot orange/red. This colours symbolise fire, heat, danger, destruction. They are bursting with life, reminding us of their strength and ability to survive.
It can be seen as part of the upcoming Easterly Artists exhibition ‘Turn up the Heat’ at Holton Lodge Barns along side the companion piece below:
Settling in
Using then ancient ferns and Gunneras I wanted to develop my ideas around nature reclaiming. I am playing with perspectives again in this piece. There are reflections, changes in scale and confusions over what is happening.
This is all composed with the plants still taking centre stage. The oranges become leaf type shapes with the feeling of reflecting the trees forming the background. Contrasts of hot and cool colours reflecting our relationship with nature, the need for it whilst the destruction continues. Plant adapt but at what cost?
