‘At Knees, at shame, at belly’

Nettle Grellier

11th of July - 30th of July - Foundations Artsy

This collection of work takes its title from a quote found in the novel, ‘Matrix’ by Lauren Groff. A book about a community of nuns led by a fierce and sensual giantess, Marie de France, who in a desire to keep their society secure, build a maze around their property to keep troublesome men out. The women in the book all possess different skills that help build their community. Nettle’s figures display a similar vision of femininity, where women are strong, handsome and self-sufficient.

As with most of her work, these paintings explore themes of ritual, storytelling and more specifically here, fertility. Rather than a pre-prescribed methodology, Nettle combines traditional symbolism with modern-day cultural references, leaving space for the viewer to invent their own narratives and notions of myth making.

Nettle Grellier (b.1993) graduated with a BA in Fine Art from the University of Brighton in 2015, before completing the Turps Banana Correspondence Course in 2020. Her work has been exhibited in the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia.
Nettle’s work is characterized by her use of soft fleshy pinks and reds, coupled with earthy browns and greens. Predominantly figurative, her work aims to untangle her own relationship to femininity using both traditional and contemporary motifs. Influenced by her rural upbringing, local folklore, and a keen interest in the history of gossip and the likes of Dolly Parton, she seeks to tell the story of hardy women in small communities throughout the ages whilst challenging our notions of intimacy and established social behaviours.