Lot 11 - Ariane Hughes - Figure of Eight

Oil on primed watercolour paper
2024
A6 (10x15cm)
Original Artwork
Signed on Verso
Curated by Mercedes Lucy

About
Ariane Hughes (b.1997, London) is a painter known for her meticulous approach to texture and surface. Her work is characterised by smooth, polished finishes and the careful rendering of organic and figurative forms, including body parts, which evoke a striking illusion of tactility. Driven by a quest for perfection, her process is both exploratory and introspective, capturing the fragility and fragmented nature of human experience while challenging conventional perspectives of observation and interpretation. Through her refined technique, Hughes creates a tension between the ideal and the imperfect, seamlessly merging unsettling elements with dark humour to produce paradoxically beautiful compositions. In addition to her solo and group presentations, Hughes has curated exhibitions such as (It’s My Party) I Can Cry If I Want To, Guts Gallery, London (2023), and Damned If I Do, Gallery 46, London (2022).

Education
BA in painting, Camberwell University, London, UK (graduated 2019)

Solo Exhibitions
2024 / 04
H0rnyCatholicG1rl, Edge Art Space (Turin)

2023 / 07
Don’t Cry Because It Happened, Smile Because It’s Over, Steve Turner (Los Angeles)

2022 / 07
Better Luck Next Time, GNYP Gallery (Berlin)

Group Exhibitions
Recent group exhibitions include:
Antigone Revisited, Hypha Studios, London (2024)
Horripilation, The Hole, New York (2024)
Surrealism And Witchcraft, LAMB Gallery, London (2023).

Public Collections
Studio Berkheim (Stuttgart, Germany)

Statement about AOAP Submitted Artwork
The works created for Art on a Postcard, ‘Gently Does It’ and ‘Figure of Eight’, represent an evolution in my practice, building on the foundations of earlier themes while introducing fresh perspectives. This new direction refines and deepens my focus on organic textures, floral forms, and fragmented body parts, presenting them with greater intimacy and detail. These specific works capture close-ups of my fingers interacting with rose petals. Visually, they highlight a shift towards decluttered backgrounds and close-ups, allowing the textures and forms to take centre stage. The works prioritise the refinement of the handling of paint and surface finish, intertwining organic textures with figurative forms. This creates a balance of delicacy and subtle sensuality, with an undercurrent of mystery and the evocative, reflecting the fragmented nature of human experience.

The palette also reflects this evolution, blending muted yet sumptuous tones that evoke a sense of veiled eroticism. These choices build upon my practice while opening new creative possibilities. Creating these works has inspired me to explore working on paper, a shift that promises further experimentation and growth while continuing to honour the core of my artistic vision.