Laura Jones
Wildflower

In her first solo exhibition at Olsen Irwin, Laura Jones celebrates the Australian wildflower. While knowingly engaging with the lineage of still life, her paintings are contemporary renditions of the genre.

Tiny stems of kangaroo paw or flowering gum are placed in crystal vases and scaled up for a fresh perspective. Jones, who has worked as a florist, has an observation based studio practice, setting up the arrangements and painting from life.

Addicted to the powerful symbology of the ephemeral bloom, Jones juxtaposes wildflowers with their European counterparts in a series of paintings that declare a deep respect for the importance of flowers in both art and life.

Photography by Mim Stirling, 2015.