Held Figures
Held Figures is a series that explores what it means to be contained — emotionally, psychologically, and physically — without being constrained. The figures in these works are simplified, almost archetypal, yet they carry a strong sense of presence. They are not portraits of individuals, but representations of states of being.
Each figure appears held within a structured, layered ground. The backgrounds are built from repeated fragments, creating a sense of enclosure and support rather than confinement. This layering acts as both a backdrop and a quiet architecture, suggesting stability, memory, or accumulated experience. The figures sit calmly within these structures, neither pushing against them nor dissolving into them.
Colour is central to how each work communicates. Warm yellows and ochres suggest light, openness, and resilience. Softer earth tones convey balance and neutrality, while cooler blues introduce a sense of introspection and inward focus. Although each figure is distinct, the palette across the series remains restrained, allowing subtle shifts in tone to carry emotional weight.
The absence of facial detail is intentional. By removing specific expression, the figures invite the viewer to project their own emotional state onto the work. This ambiguity creates space for reflection rather than narrative. The works do not ask to be interpreted in a fixed way; instead, they offer a pause — a moment of stillness in which to recognise something familiar.
Held Figures sits in dialogue with my broader figurative practice, particularly my interest in interior landscapes and psychological presence. Where some series explore tension or uncertainty, Held Figures leans toward equilibrium. These works are about being held, supported, and grounded — about the quiet strength found in stillness.
This series reflects an ongoing investigation into how abstraction and figuration can coexist, and how simplicity can carry depth. Held Figures is less about telling a story and more about holding space — for calm, for reflection, and for a sense of quiet continuity.
