ARTIST STATEMENT
Contemporary artist Maggie Thompson is based on the South Coast of England, where she creates abstract paintings comprised of coloured pigments pushed, pulled, scraped and layered across her canvases.

Applying paint is a physical action. It is also a lively and contemplative experience through which Maggie expresses her perspective on life. Summoning an inner vernacular, she interprets scents and sounds into a diverse visual language of colours and textures with which to engage on canvas.

There are two main influences that have impacted her art; one being Colour Field Painting and the other Abstract Expressionism. Nevertheless, she currently differentiates her style by containing her compositions well within the boundaries of her canvases. She also incorporates lines or ‘zips’in to her works, which dart in and out between the colours, adding energy and life to her paintings.

The underlying theme of Maggie’s oeuvre is about sharing lived experiences. In today’s world we live between the chaos and the calm, and our emotions are indicators of the human condition. We all have our own feelings and life experiences, many believing our particular point of view is the right one. That may be the case, but conversely such feelings and beliefs can also lead to intolerance and isolation.

There is a lot written and broadcast about Lived Experience, including a recent programme by Prof. Abigail Williams called “Who owns the Truth” broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Number two in the series is particularly fascinating, and can be found at: BBC Radio 4 – I Feel Therefore I Am; The Multiverse of Truth.

We all realise not everything is perfect with the world. Nevertheless, no matter how young or old we are, by sharing stories of our lived experiences Maggie anticipates we can create tolerance, and gain a better understanding of each other in the hope of creating a better future together.

Contact: maggiethompsonart5@gmail.com