Enter Gallery are delighted to be bringing you a selection of new original artworks by Brighton-based contemporary artist, Bonnie and Clyde.

One of Brighton’s most popular artists, Bonnie and Clyde is known for serene, escapist works that muse on matters of the mind and how we can cultivate more inner peace. While she has earnt her reputation as one of the UKs most exciting contemporary collage artists, painting has always played a significant role in her work, and in these new originals, we see her bring her talent with a paintbrush to the forefront.

In today’s blog, we’re chatting to Bonnie and Clyde to learn more about the inspirations behind these new original works…

 

Embracing the Unknown

In a busy world full of conflicts and politics, Bonnie and Clyde art is calming, offering a welcome salve to modern life and opening a gateway to tranquillity that many of us crave.

Finding a sense of peace is something that Bonnie and Clyde has always explored, both in her personal life and through her artistic journey. Creativity is largely inexplicable. Right now, this artist’s focus is on learning to trust what emerges and embracing the flow. She reveals:

“When I sketch out and then make the work I don’t necessarily understand the reason or meaning of the works  - they just are. I’m getting better at accepting that and trusting that all will become clear, rather than rushing to assign it meaning. When you have moments of uncertainty about what you’re creating, you just have to wait a bit and the meaning or purpose will gradually unveil.

My work happens when I’m in the present moment and when I’m not thinking of all the things there are to be concerned about. When I’m in the flow of making, I’m more connected to the positives.”

 

Meditative Minds

Bonnie and Clyde attributes her ability to surrender to the mysteries of creativity to her ongoing commitment to science-based meditations.

The clarity this practice has brought her is explored in two of her new works, Play It Your Way and A Visual Representation of A Clear Decision. These large paintings are visual representations of what it feels like to meditate, and represent Bonnie and Clyde’s journey to find peace, clarity and understanding of her past, present and future.

By using the motif of a slot machine, the artist explores flow and the feeling of hitting the jackpot that comes from acting in alignment with your deepest desires.

 

Decision Made

As the soaring rocket, juicy cherries and peace symbol suggest, A Visual Representation of A Clear Decision is Bonnie and Clyde’s depiction of something wonderful - that moment of total clarity, where you’re 100% sure of your direction and can’t wait to spring into gear. She explains:

 

“This artwork represents that beautiful moment when you connect in a meditation and a decision comes to you easily, rather than you labouring to decide. Suddenly answers and questions become clear, things become definite.”

 

 

Your Heart’s Desire

Bonnie and Clyde created Play It Your Way while really craving a holiday, something we can all sympathise with…

 

“This piece is primarily about work-life balance, or the lack thereof! Last year, I really wanted to escape life’s pressures. I was craving being in holiday mode, not having any cares, just going for coffee when the feeling struck, or going to record stores. This idea of vacation is represented with the palm trees as the main symbol, and the waves flowing far away from the city.”

 

The artwork depicts a figure surfing away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s a reminder to look for fun in our daily lives, or as Bonnie and Clyde explains:

 

“Play it your way and when you do, it will flow.”

 

 

Via the stormy skies over the city, Bonnie and Clyde infuses this piece with a sense of trepidation, reflecting the stresses of life and those concerns we all have about whether we’re doing enough or making the right moves. She reveals:


“While I speak about meditation a lot and finding this sense of peace, this comes in combination with the realities of real world, with all its noise and traffic. The heartbeat of the cities I’ve lived in, be that Brighton, London or Manchester, and the worries I have about the world and politics, that’s part of me too. However, I don’t want those worries to be the focus of my work. I want to create art that makes people happy and gives them a sense of peace.”

 

Meaningful Motifs

As with all of her work, these large pieces and the five smaller works that will be exhibited alongside them, are rich in the motifs that define her oeuvre. Whether it’s palm trees, big skies, bodies of water, or striking architecture, Bonnie and Clyde is a lover of returning to the symbolism that matters the most for her. Speaking of the symbolism of the slot machines, she reveals:  

“I love slot machines. I avoid them but I do love them! To me, they represent leisure, choices and fun times. They’re comforting reminder of my youth and of my grandparents, in particular my Grandma, who is a huge influence on me and my art, and was a main presence for a significant chunk of my childhood.”

 

Smaller Studies

The smaller original we will be exhibiting, Street Strut, Hazy View and Accepting Rental Applications, With Focus and Santa Monica Air also represent an evolution in Bonnie and Clyde’s artistic practice. She explains:

 

“So far, this whole year has been about embracing what wants and needs to emerge without resistance, whether that’s more painting pieces on linen, or working with oil paint. I also want to create large 3D, architectural works, allowing people to actually step inside my artworks to bring these meditative spaces to life. Watch this space.”

 

These small pieces combine painting with collage, using Bonnie and Clyde’s evocative travel photography from her from trips to New York and Los Angeles. The pieces explore love, loss and renewal.

 

 

These new original works by Bonnie and Clyde are on display at Enter Gallery on Bond Street in Brighton. Or view artworks by Bonnie and Clyde here.