Attenborough Arts Centre is proud to present a new major solo exhibition by acclaimed portrait artist Jemisha Maadhavji. Bringing together painting and sculpture, the exhibition explores portraiture and identity, reflecting upon the artist’s concept of luxury as a deep connection to nature. Jemisha Maadhavji (b.1996) is an acclaimed artist known for her vibrant, pattern-rich portraiture. Her work was selected for Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2022, and in 2023, she created a portrait of NHS junior doctor, Grace Spence Green, for the BBC series Extraordinary Portraits. Working primarily in oil, her practice explores identity, fashion, and representation. Inspired by luxury interiors and design, including Liberty and de Gournay designs, Maadhavji places her sitters within imagined spaces composed of floral wallpapers, contrasting textiles, and blocks of bold colour. Her subjects, often encountered through street conversations or social media, use fashion as a form of self-expression, reflecting Maadhavji’s interest in the way clothing conveys identity and presence. Based in Leicester and of Indian heritage, Maadhavji draws on the vibrancy of her diverse neighbourhood. Sari shops, hand-embroidered and block-printed textiles, and Indian confectioners act as a reference point for the vivid colour and intricate patterns in her work. Floral motifs recur throughout her work, expressing her idea of luxury as a ‘flawless connection with nature’. Bouquets are painted in oil, and blooms appear in delicate washes of colour. Maadhavji often incorporates flowers as a decorative element in her paintings of male subjects, challenging the conventional associations of floral imagery and femininity within portraiture. Influenced by Susan Sontag’s Notes on ‘Camp’, Maadhavji’s work challenges conventional ideas of beauty, reimagining portraiture as a site where fashion, identity, and individuality intersect and the lines between masculine and feminine are redrawn. Gallery Opening Times: Weekdays, 12pm – 5pm Weekends, 12pm – 4pm Exhibition Accessibility: Our friendly team of volunteers and gallery invigilators can tell you more about the artworks and artists. Sound and light levels can be adjusted. Seating is available in all gallery spaces. Gallery interpretation is produced in large print as standard. A braille guide for the exhibition is also available from the gallery desk. Film and video artworks are subtitled, or where this is not possible a transcript will be available. Ear defenders are available from the gallery desk. A full guide to accessibility and facilities information across our spaces can be accessed by clicking here. If you require an adjustment that isn’t mentioned please contact us ahead of your visit and we will try to meet your request within our capacity. Digital Guide As part of Bloomberg Connects app, we offer a unique way to explore our venue and galleries. This free digital guide offers opportunities to learn about our current and past exhibitions, our upcoming events, video content, maps of our centre and more. It’s a wonderful way to stay connected and find out more – either while you’re visiting in person, or virtually. To learn more scan the QR code below.

Description supplied by the event organiser.