Lucia Rice

Lucia Rice is a painter whose work looks to the mundane and domestic. This series challenges the perception that being alone means being lonely. Our solitude can set us free, as the restraints of performance and societal expectations are removed. Lucia reflects on her teenage years, where being alone was her daily routine, at first she resented it, but now finds that solitude can be liberating. Being alone is a fact of our lives, be it in the dead of night, when we go to the toilet, or when we sit and relax in bed, once we are alone, we are able to breathe for even just a few short minutes, walk around in our pants and do as we please.

Using painterly brushstrokes and saturated colours to create dreamlike serene scenes, taking inspiration from Impressionism’s focus on everyday life and vibrant scenery, specifically the work of Berthe Morisot (1841-1895; Bourges, France) and her depictions of the lone female figure. These works each have their own colour palette to convey the differing personalities of each figure. Regardless of who we are and what we are like, solitude will never escape us, but that is not something to fear, rather something to embrace. With solitude, there is peace.