Luella Bartley, celebrated for her past work in fashion design, has transitioned into a prominent artist, now preparing for her latest solo exhibition, ‘Dressing for Pleasure,’ at the Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery in London. Opening on March 21 and running until April 18, 2026, the show marks a significant moment in Bartley’s evolving artistic journey, where she continues to challenge conventional beauty through her distinctive painting style.
Bartley’s artistic practice centers on using painting to ‘subvert reality,’ often deliberately distorting and exaggerating figures. This approach stands in contrast to conventional notions of beauty, which she finds ‘too good, too proper, and I lose interest.’ Her works aim to explore deeper truths beyond surface aesthetics.
A deeply personal tragedy, the death of her son Kip in 2021, significantly influenced Bartley’s artistic journey. Painting became a ‘retreat’ for her, a solitary process through which she connected with herself and processed emotions. Her early artworks primarily focused on nude figures, exploring vulnerability.
While vulnerability was a key theme in her initial artistic phase, recent exhibitions, particularly ‘Dressing for Pleasure,’ see Bartley returning to incorporate fashion into her work. Here, clothing is explored as a rich language of self-expression, a protective layer, and a communicator of identity and emotional states, reflecting her unique perspective on the interplay between attire and the inner self.
Her artistic output extends beyond this London showing. Another recent solo exhibition, ‘Passenger,’ was held at the Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery in Berlin from September 13 to October 12, 2024. For ‘Passenger,’ Bartley drew inspiration from her observations of Royal Ballet dance rehearsals, bringing human movement and physicality to the forefront. Bartley’s artistic foundation is robust, with an academic background that includes studying painting at Chelsea College of Art and Central Saint Martins, which continues to inform her practice.
Bartley’s work is increasingly gaining recognition within the art world. She is represented by the Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, with further exhibitions already scheduled. These include participation in EXPO Chicago in April 2025, and upcoming solo shows in West Palm Beach in both 2025 and 2027, signaling a growing presence for her distinctive artistic voice.