Challenging portraits on display

The Falmouth University fine art student, who is currently in the second year of her degree, has recently begun to incorporate intricate stitching into her acrylic paintings, which are photo-realist in style and often large-scale portraits.

Lowenna created Punch (pictured) as part of a project about pain last year, and has been working hard towards tomorrow’s exhibition, which takes place at the Art Group Studios in Althorpe Street, Leamington, from 2pm to 6pm.

She said: “I aim to show traditional portraiture while using contemporary techniques in order to challenge the preconceptions of the viewer.

“I like using acrylics because I can apply it in layers and, as it dries quickly, it enables me to make reactive changes. It’s like a voyage of discovery as I am still learning about its properties and using it to create exciting effects in my work.”

While Lowenna’s earlier influences included Jenny Saville, Lucian Freud and Chuck Close, she has more recently been working in the experimental styles of Hynek Martinec, Paul Emsley and Thomas Saliot, all of whom use photorealism in their portraiture, as well as using some of same the stitching techniques used by Maurizo Anzeri and Annegret Soltau.

Entry to the exhibition is free and selected works will be for sale.