After spending over a decade abroad living in Australia, France and the US, contemporary artist LouiseHoward returned to London during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survival was of necessity, and home was the place to rest and rebuild in a chaotic world.

Despite the challenges and uncertainties of the time, this period of life proved inspirational for her latest art collection. It was a difficult time financially, but she told herself “As long as I have cat food and I have wine, I’ll be OK”.

In Catfood and Wine is Howard’s latest solo exhibition, bringing together 20 to 25 evocative pieces of art. These works will be available for public viewing for the first time, opening at an intimate gallery space a three-minute walk from Notting Hill Gate station on the 27th of March, 2025.

The exhibition reflects Howard’s signature focus on contemplative female faces and expressive eyes, a recurring theme in her work. Choosing everyday women as her models, Howard grounds her art in the authenticity and relatability of ordinary life. In this collection, she introduces more playful elements into her work, including realistic depictions of everyday objects and even her beloved cat, the mischievous Leonard Cohen.

The title of the exhibition refers to finding gratitude in life’s simple pleasures when going through difficult situations such as a global pandemic, such as feeding a pet or indulging in small luxuries. In Catfood and Wine explores themes of resilience, vulnerability, and the unexpected beauty that emerges from life’s challenges.

While Howard’s journey as an artist has seen her experiment with abstraction, this collection marks a renewed focus to her love of realism, which can be seen in the intricate depiction of hands for the first time in her body of work. Utilising her mastery of oil painting, sprinkled with several touches of mixed media to create rich textures, her compositions create a deep narrative within each piece. Her use of moody, dark tones balanced with bursts of vibrant hues captures the duality of life.

Having exhibited around the world, Howard has established a unique reputation in the art world. Her latest collection showcases her most emotionally raw and authentic work to date. In Catfood and Wine is unapologetically personal, raw and deeply reflective of her own experiences.

Stay tuned for information on the opening night and general admission information.