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A painting of a person with red skin and long, dark hair. A single white tear falls from one eye, while a small yellow flower grows from the other.

Exploring the depths of the human experience with Elsa Rouy's figurative paintings

The London-based artist's constantly evolving work explores the complexities of the human condition through layers of acrylic.

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Date
2 May 2023

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Here, we're introducing Elsa Rouy, an accomplished artist hailing from Sittingbourne, Kent, now based in the cultural hub of London. Elsa creates captivating works of art using acrylic on canvas, building up and removing thin layers to create intriguing textures reminiscent of glazing with oils. As a figurative painter, Elsa uses the body as a medium to express complex emotions that are often difficult to verbalise. While her figures are ungendered, representing anyone and everyone, Elsa often portrays the female form as it's something she's most comfortable with. Her work delves into the intricacies of the human condition, exploring the blurred boundaries between life and death, interior and exterior, containment and expulsion, pleasure and pain, and obscured identities.

Her figures are also in a constant state of transformation, creating an alluring sense of evolution in her work. Elsa draws inspiration from the interactions between people, both in their moments of togetherness and in solitude. Most intrinsic to Elsa’s art is how she captures the beauty and awkwardness of human emotions. Elsa's creative influences include renowned artist Louise Bourgeois and contemporary artist Hermann Nitsch, whose works she's recently been exploring. With her undeniable talent, Elsa is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the art world and we're excited to see where her work takes her in the future.

A painting of a nude figure with long dark hair, looking towards the viewer with a strained, toothy expression. The figure is set against a split background of deep black and vibrant red.
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Elsa Rouy: Eigen+Art Lab, Elsa&Emil (Copyright © Elsa Rouy, 2023)

A painting of three fragmented nude figures set against a dark grey background. One figure has a large, red, organic shape emerging from their torso, while the others are depicted as disjointed limbs and torsos.
Above

Elsa Rouy: Eigen+Art Lab, Elsa&Emil (Copyright © Elsa Rouy, 2023)

A painting of two nude figures against a dark background. One figure lies prone in the foreground with red paint smeared across their lower legs, while the other figure is fragmented and floating above them.
Above

Elsa Rouy: Eigen+Art Lab, Elsa&Emil (Copyright © Elsa Rouy, 2023)

A painting of two figures in muted brown tones. One figure looks directly at the viewer with wide eyes and bared teeth, while the other is seen in profile, leaning close to them.
Above

Elsa Rouy: Guts Gallery (Copyright © Elsa Rouy, 2022)

A painting of a blurred figure against a plain grey background. The figure has no eyes or nose, only a pair of defined lips and a red, visceral shape across their torso.
Above

Elsa Rouy: Eigen+Art Lab, Elsa&Emil (Copyright © Elsa Rouy, 2023)

A painting of a nude figure with reddish-brown skin and long hair, seen from behind. They are crouched and looking back over their shoulder toward the viewer against a plain, pale background.
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Elsa Rouy: Guts Gallery (Copyright © Elsa Rouy, 2022)

A painting of a distorted, glossy red figure with multiple limbs and torsos entwined together. Small, delicate flowers are scattered across the figure’s body against a plain cream background.
Above

Elsa Rouy: Guts Gallery, The Artist is Present (Copyright © Elsa Rouy, 2022)

A painting of a figure curled into a tight ball, their face partially obscured by long, dark hair. Only their eyes are visible, staring directly at the viewer against a plain grey background.
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Elsa Rouy: Tuesday to Friday, Human in Training (Copyright © Elsa Rouy, 2022)

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Elsa Rouy: Guts Gallery, I Could Always Crack a Joke (Copyright © Elsa Rouy, 2022)

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About the Author

Joey Levenson

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Joey is a freelance design, arts and culture writer based in London. They were part of the It’s Nice That team as editorial assistant in 2021, after graduating from King’s College, London. Previously, Joey worked as a writer for numerous fashion and art publications, such as HERO Magazine, Dazed, and Candy Transversal.

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