You are invited to my solo show; Bone Essence.
The Lounge, Thames-side Studios, Harrington Way, SE18 5NR
LINK:
https://www.thames-sidestudios.co.uk/news/exhibitions/2025/mia-hawk-bone-essence
About the exhibition:
"This series of paintings, created between 2022–24, marks a deliberate departure from my previous work. It began with one unexpected, experimental piece—born out of frustration, burnout, and the aftermath of funding rejections. After years of hyper-realistic commissions, I craved a way of working that felt more aligned with my energy: raw, playful, and expressive.
The emergence of skulls and skeletons took me by surprise. With a background in acting, music, and theatre, my artistic drive has always been rooted in a desire to understand what makes us human. Stripping away identity markers—like skin colour, gender, or status—the skeleton becomes a universal symbol. It’s about what we all share, rather than what sets us apart.
While I didn’t set out to explore death, it’s impossible to ignore its presence within the skeleton imagery. But mortality, to me, is not bleak—it's grounding. It reminds me to live more fully, to seek presence, joy, and gratitude.
The vivid colours and abstraction reflect my internal world and my belief that reality is shaped more by emotion and perception than fact. These works are, in essence, about connection, freedom, and the strange beauty of being alive."
- Mia Hawk, May 2025
