ABSTRACT ART & ART IN MIND EXHIBITION

21st May April – 1st June
Preview – Wednesday 21st May 6 – 8.30pm

Our Abstract Art & Art in Mind exhibition brings together a range of contemporary artists whose work explores the emotional, spiritual, and psychological depths of human experience through abstraction. Using diverse media including painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media, the exhibition invites viewers to engage with art that transcends literal representation. Themes of nature, memory, identity, and the inner self are expressed through layered compositions, tactile surfaces, and intuitive forms, offering a space for reflection and connection. 

Open:
10am – 6pm Monday to Saturday
12 – 6pm Sunday

MILENA DE ROSA
@milenaderosart
milenaderosa.com

Milena De Rosa is a painter from Nottingham, currently completing
her degree in BA Fine Art at Goldsmiths University of London.

Milena’s work navigates the space between figuration and abstraction, using colour and layered compositions to unsettle realism and invite shifting perspectives. Drawing from cinematic aesthetics and domestic spaces, her paintings explore the complexity of the gaze.

JO BARNARD
@jobarnardart
jobarnardart.co.uk

Jo Barnard is a UK contemporary mixed media artist from Essex who divides her time between making art and her role as a trauma therapist. Her work seeks to express the range of human emotions that are often too complex to vocalise. Jo brings her new collection of paintings, ‘Fifty’ to The Brick Lane Gallery’s Abstract exhibition.

A Word From The Artist:

‘Upon turning fifty, these paintings encapsulate many layers and depth of life experience, the warmth of genuine love and connection, the unapologetic raw expression of being human, the gratitude I feel for life itself, and my increasing desire for space and time to simply breathe and be. The limited palette of Magenta, Prussian Blue, Cadmium Yellow and Raw Umber combine to produce colours that remind me of many personal favourites; dark chocolate and cherries, mulled wine by the fire and sangria in the sunshine.’

HYUNGSUN KIM
@hyungsunny
hyungsunkim.com

HyungSun  Kim, a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York, uses nature as a central theme in her artwork to capture the fleeting beauty of life. Through layered paint on canvas, she reflects on the transient elements of nature – flowers, wind, raindrops, and warmth – symbolising moments that offer healing and peace. She records the thoughts and emotions of nature’s dance and its beautiful elements. In a fast-paced world filled with anxiety, her work invites viewers to find solace in these subtle yet powerful moments of beauty, encouraging reflection and a deeper connection to the natural world.

Her paintings celebrate the changing colours and textures of nature, embodying the idea that beauty exists in the simplest, most ephemeral aspects of life. By creating meditative layers of paint, she fosters a dialogue between the observer and the natural world, offering moments of introspection and peace. Her work serves as a reminder that, like nature, we too are beautiful in our own unique way, and the quiet brilliance of life is always present, waiting to be appreciated.

LAVINIA JONES

@laviniajones.art
laviniajonesart.com

Lavinia Jones is a British practising artist currently living in Sheffield, on the edge of the Peak District. She holds a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Sheffield Hallam University. Lavinia has taught Fine Art and Art History extensively at both Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield, as well as working as a freelance lecturer in these subjects. Her work has been exhibited regularly at Whiteley Wood Studio, Art in the Gardens (Sheffield), and Frameworks Gallery in Sheffield.

A Word From The Artist: 

‘My studio looks out over a landscape of trees, streams and shifting skies. I know these places; I walk these places – literally and metaphorically – and in my mind’s eye, I hold them. On canvas these reminisces are transformed into something more personal, becoming more reflective and resonant. Oil paint allows for richness of colour, texture and mark-making, while in addition, layers of light and dark are achieved through the use of impasto and glazing. These techniques materially enhance mood as well as creating pictorial tensions. For me, it’s all about the equipoise of light and dark, something that we all experience, be that in art or in life.’

KIMOK
@kimokokokok

KIMOK is a creator who works across stories, images, and experiences. Her journey began with comics at ‘Korea Animation High School(Korea)’, followed by a BA and MA in Moving Image and Animation at ‘Konkuk University(Korea)’, and later, an MA in Animation at the ‘Royal College of Art(London)’. Now, guided by stories, she opens a new chapter in London.

A Word From The Artist:

‘Hello, I’m KIMOK. I’m known as an illustrator, animation director, publisher, writer, student, and even a teacher. But above all, I introduce myself as a storyteller and traveler. For me, the form or medium of my work doesn’t matter much. What matters is finding the hidden beauty scattered throughout the world and telling my own story. I focus on how my stories live, breathe, and connect with the world around them.

[ABOUT LOVE]

Every small choice we make comes together to shape the world we live in. No moment from the past is without connection. As many choices as there are people, there are just as many stories and worlds. Together, they create who I am, who you are, and who we become.’

 

AMANDA COTTON
@amandacottonstudios
amandacotton.co.uk

Amanda Cotton is globally known for her powerful artwork filled with emotion and storytelling, making her a sought-after artist for commissions. Amanda’s most famous piece, a 1-ton, 7-ft sculpture named ‘Inexorable,’ brings life to 18th-century pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read. It celebrates these trailblazing women who were hidden in history and aims to break stereotypes. Amanda has a Master’s in 3D Design and is based at Trinity Buoy Wharf, London, where she opened Art Craft Studios to support others with their creativity. 

Amanda’s #We100Project is a personal journey focusing on body image and self-esteem. She is aiming to make 100 sculptures, and so far there are 10! The project is about sparking curiosity, starting conversations, and bringing communities together. Amanda believes that the journey, process, and feedback from the audience is far more interesting than the final sculptures, which, in most cases, no longer exist. 

 

BIRGIT NEISER
@birgitneiser
birgitneiser.com

A Word From The Artist:

‘I was born in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. As a documentary and fine art photographer, I divide my time mostly between Germany and Australia and everywhere in between. 

Fine Art Photography is not just about taking artistic images but also about converting photographs into a work of art. Photography is my foundation, but I see it as just the beginning. Photographs can be raw material rather than the final product. By blending it with other materials and integrating it into mixed media, I want a photograph to feel as tactile as a painting or sculpture. The line between what is seen and what is felt gets blurred. 

The body of work in this exhibition reflects this approach by combining gold leaves with Polaroid photos through the Emulsion Transfer technique.’

STEFANIA PRIORI

@steff2233

Stefania Priori was born in Bristol, UK, and raised in East Sussex. Following a traditional career in the workplace as a graphic designer, she later developed her practice as an artist, working primarily with oils on canvas and acrylic paints.

 Her artistic inspiration is rooted in a wide range of reflections on life. Themes of the cosmos, spirituality, and the mysteries of the Universe are evident throughout her work. After experiencing a breakdown in 2008 and receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, Stefania spent the following decade processing her personal journey. Her art became a means of exploring her inner world, emotional experiences, and a broader spiritual perspective.

A Word From The Artist:

‘Life has its soul journey its life’s lessons to us all as individuals, then we all have our stories to tell and learn from our experiences and wisdom grows…
Some we can share some we don’t want to.
I guess my paintings have been part of that journey from a process taking me through my depression, suppression, emotions highs & lows, to realisations, responsibilities and lessons and beliefs! This in turn helping us grow! To turn in and out on oneself to become at ease with oneself . Forgiveness, clarity and understanding gives you growth!’

 

The Brick Lane Gallery
216 Brick Lane | E1 6SA

Phone: +44 (0) 207 729 9721

Instagram: @bricklanegallery