The paintings of British-Australian artist Ariane Hughes’ (b. 1989; UK) explore the darker, often unsettling aspects of beauty and perfection. She engages with themes of organic and figurative forms, blending unsettling elements with body parts to create a tension between refinement and dark humour. With a penchant for body horror, Hughes navigates the boundaries of sensuality and discomfort, infusing her work with wistful, melancholic undertones—a romantic yearning that transforms darker themes into paradoxically beautiful compositions. These works balance veiled eroticism with a disquieting allure.

This paradoxical duality manifests through smooth, polished surfaces and meticulous attention to detail, where textures like skin, fur, or wood are carefully rendered. The illusion of tactility is achieved while maintaining the canvas’s seamless finish, further underscoring the tension between the ideal and the imperfect.

Recent solo and group exhibitions include Steve Turner, Los Angeles; Hypha Studios, London; Edge Art Space, Turin; Guts Gallery, London; The Hole, New York; Kupfer Project, London and Soho Revue, London among others.

Hughes holds a BA in Painting from Camberwell University.