Lucy McElroy:
Lucy is a portrait artist whose current work is inspired by early 20th century fashion and design. She works predominantly with charcoal, oil paint and gold leaf creating nostalgic but empowered paintings of women.
www.instagram/lucy.mcelroy.artist
About: Lucy McElroy
My current practice explores female archetypes, referencing historical icons and the complex contradictions they embodied. By replacing the demure, averted eyes typical of the era with a confrontational gaze, I aim to empower each subject with the strength and awareness to be an active participant in their own portraits. When they meet the viewer’s gaze, they challenge us to objectify them, fully conscious of their position in the history of the muse.
Driven by a love for material experimentation, I have developed an original mixed-media process that captures the soft-focused aesthetics and luminous, ethereal qualities of vintage silver-gelatin prints.