About Freya Rickman

There has been an idealised expectation of women through the years which has often been appropriated by the male gaze. The relationship between the figure and spectator is of interest in Freya Rickman’s work due to the visual communication of specific experiences that are personal to the artist. Rickman examines the emotional and psychological effects spawned from the male gaze through a transition between vulnerability and power.

Rickman intends to communicate raw emotion through topics that are often difficult to voice, in order to promote awareness and healing. With this, we are invited to witness an honest perception from the eyes of a woman, revealing what hides beyond the smile. A woman’s vision is directly witnessed through the exposure of how women are often objectified in society, depicted through personal encounters and through the experience of others; this collaboration remains significant in Rickman’s work.

Through each brushstroke Rickman brings experiences and emotions to life as a form of reflective therapy, confronting the idealised representation of a woman whilst reclaiming perceptive control. Women are symbolised in Rickman’s work as objects for the male desire, which is then challenged by unveiling contemporary perspectives. The female gaze therefore inserts its power in Freya’s work through this emotional exposure.

Contemporary British artists such as Jenny Saville, Tracey Emin and Cecily Brown who each explore the impact society has on women, especially when it comes to the body, have significantly inspired Rickman’s practice. There has also been a strong connection to male artists such as Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and Frank Auerbach who each inspire her work emotionally and psychologically. Each of these artists influence Freya’s engagement with a series of strong emotional gestures and spontaneous markings through a delicate process imposing a dominant loss of control.

Oil paint is a medium Rickman often works with which is often applied to her large scale canvases in a gestural, expressive and forceful manner. The way in which paint is applied to the canvas is just as important to Rickman as the final image the paint eventually generates; this extensive process is what truly demonstrates the raw emotion involved in her work. Colour plays a vital role in Freya’s practice due to the emotional value they hold within each painting. Layers of colour, tone and texture are built up in her work to form an expressive illusion that allows us to visualise the artist’s mind and feelings.

Used as a form of reflective therapy, Freya brings experiences and emotions to life through each brushstroke, providing a continuous story of the artist’s life. Although her work is personal, it can be open to interpretation due to the abstract nature of the work, used as an opportunity to reflect and understand in their own mind. Rickman’s topics are often relatable to a wider audience as a tool for others to heal from. The work captures the imagination with its nostalgic essence whilst highlighting elements of fear and confrontation depicted through the artist’s truth and confession.