Monkey Business
7-11 December 2024
Centrespace Gallery
“Truly original” – Bristol24/7
Monkey Business is my exhibition inspired by the varied expressions of biological sex and sexual behaviour found in the animal kingdom.
Inspired by the books of Lucy Cooke (Bitch) and Eliot Schrefer (Queer Ducks), this exhibition is about celebrating queerness and expanding my own understanding of who I am in the world. During my research I learnt about lesbian lizards, non-monogamous songbirds, sex-changing clownfish, promiscuous monkeys – there is just SO MUCH queer behaviour that is being uncovered.
At the same time I want to challenge this idea of “finding” our place in the world by looking at nature. Animals don’t exist to teach us how to live – our morality is not a monkey’s business, but ours to figure out.
Painting catalogue available on request.
Bristol Beacon
Winner of Transform Awards Europe 2022
“Rosa is astonishing. Her clarity of thought and vibrant, playful creativity produce extraordinary results. She is a true artist, and working with her has been unforgettable and inspiring.”
– Nick Eagleton from Saboteur Studio
Brief
I was honoured to be selected to lead this transformative project for the largest cultural music venue in Bristol, with the support of Saboteur Studio and Rising Arts Agency. The visual rebrand was the final step in shedding the building’s ties to slave trader Edward Colston. Put simply, the mission was to set music free
Concept
My goal was to craft a design that was expressive, personal, inclusive, and unfiltered. It was important to me that the concept be created by hand to convey genuine care and human touch.
I centred the design around the idea of an expanding source of light, a metaphor for the venue's influence and reach in the city. This light could be made louder or quieter, dynamically adjusting to suit the message and mood.
The mural is intended to draw the viewer in and up the stairs, and provides different meanings/connections depending on the view point.
Most of all, I wanted the visual identity to be welcoming and joyful – a bright departure from its previous ties.
Exploration
Custom Bike Portraits
For Cycling Events
I’m guilty of being obsessed with my bike, which is where the idea of a bike portrait came from.
These slightly skewed and fun 10-minute caricatures of bicycles add a really joyful, engaging and shareable aspect to a organised ride or race.
Case example:
Rapha Women’s 100km Ride, 8:30am-1pm
Start: I arrive for 7:30 with my materials, and introduce myself to the cyclists. I take note of what they love about their bike, and get a reference photo
During the ride: I draw and paint the bikes on A5-sized branded paper (approx 10mins per bike)
Finish: On the riders return, the custom portraits are displayed and ready to be gifted.
What’s included:
- Up to 50 portraits made with pencil, watercolour and inks.
- Hand-lino cut stamp with your logo and event on art quality paper
- Branded packaging, making it easy for riders to take their bike portrait home
Photography by Miriam Strong
The Bay Area Catches You
A selection of paintings and experiments informed by my time in Berkeley, California.
Before returning to the UK I sold my sofa and turned the small crumbling apartment into an exhibition space.
Chocolate Bars
To compliment paintings I made for Between The Lines exhibition, I created these chocolates to enhance pleasure through other senses.
Made possible by my brilliant friends Rowdy & Fancys Chocolate, in Sussex UK.
I ended up eating about half the stock I had left over so I don’t think I can make these again.
To compliment paintings I made for Between The Lines exhibition, I created these chocolates to enhance pleasure through other senses.
Made possible by my brilliant friends Rowdy & Fancys Chocolate, in Sussex UK.
I ended up eating about half the stock I had left over so I don’t think I can make these again.
