ABSTRACT SELF-PORTRAITS (2015)

ENTIRE SERIES SOLD

These self-portraits are strongly influenced by Cubism, the groundbreaking movement developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in 1907–08. Cubism brought multiple perspectives of an object or figure into a single composition, resulting in fragmented, abstracted forms that redefined how reality could be represented.

Created with acrylic paint on 50 x 40 cm battleship lino blocks, these works reinterpret that approach through sharp geometric forms that distort the human face. A bold, vibrant colour palette reflects the artist’s own lively and expressive personality, while the smooth lino surface allowed for effortless paint application.

All of the works in this series were acquired by the Junction Motel and Lounge Bar, where they continue to be displayed.

BULGES OF FLESH

This trilogy of soft chalk pastel and pencil works on A4 paper was inspired by Jenny Saville’s visceral depictions of the human body. Saville magnifies the raw details of embodiment—drooping breasts, pregnant bellies, folds of flesh, faces pressed against plexiglass—challenging the long tradition of artists from Rubens to Gauguin to Picasso who objectified the female form. Instead of idealisation, her work presents an unflinching and honest reality.

Following this ethos, Kirsty renders women’s bodies with visible imperfections: bulges of flesh, dimples, scars, bruises, stretch marks, wrinkles, and discolouration. These so-called flaws are layered and superimposed, becoming a bold and unapologetic statement. Rather than concealing, the works celebrate these marks as evidence of life. The result is a portrayal of women that is raw, truthful, and naturally beautiful.

The trilogy was exhibited at the Contemporary Arts Centre in 2016, contributing to broader conversations on contemporary representations of the body.

DIGITAL DREAMS

These digital artworks, created in Photoshop, explore the theme of dreams. Dracula’s Castle (top row, first image) envisions a place the artist longs to visit, blurring fantasy and desire. The next three works depict a modern “sleeping beauty,” immersed in fantastical dreamscapes she has no wish to leave—for in her world, dreams are richer than reality.

The fifth piece, entered into the 2014 Yen Female Art Awards, imagines a future where nature reclaims human-made environments, forcing humanity to rediscover respect for the natural world. The final work shifts tone, presenting a quiet still life of pomegranate fruit, balancing simplicity against the imaginative intensity of the preceding series.