Emily Powell

Overview

“Colour is fundamental to my practice because it has such a strong physical and emotional effect on me. I see people, numbers, places and memories as colours and the way I understand things is through combining them. I have a ‘recipe’ of colours that balance me throughout the seasons. In summer I feel able to work with cool blue because there’s so much warmth around. Spring is where I can use the widest spectrum of colours and there’s a freedom and playfulness to the palette because it’s a season in which I’m not worried about feeling down. Winter brings pink and yellow, as it is a time to paint what I need, which is kindness and warmth. I don’t mind what tools I use to make marks, but the colour is sacred. I mix paint, I use it straight from the jar, I use oil or acrylic. Again, it’s not about the type of paint it’s about the best device for delivering the most potent colour combinations to communicate emotions.”

- Emily Powell, 2025

Portland Gallery is delighted to present Emily Powell’s latest solo exhibition, a vibrant exploration of flowers in all their forms. Flowers have always been an important source of inspiration for Powell, whether captured in a traditional still life, blooming in a sun-drenched garden, or enveloping the viewer in an edge-to-edge extravaganza. These varied depictions reflect the artist’s deep connection to the transient beauty of nature and the pleasure that flowers bring when they are in full bloom.

For all enquiries, please email Florence Batchelor.