lesley ireland
Mathew

“My work deals with the triangular relationship between man, God and nature. As the spirit of God unites with the soul of man, the conscience is awakened, which sets off a series of questions about the consequences of our actions. A vanitas theme is often present in my work, where attachment to material objects prevents us from attaining ultimate peace. My paintings resemble a conjured tabloid of contemporary and timeless objects, much like the constructed reality of a museum display.”

 

Lesley Ireland Mathew became a full time artist in 2013, after a long career as an art teacher. She has spent years honing her skills as an oil painter, where her unique skill is seen both in her use of saturated colour - revealing  her chosen objects’ maximum beauty - and the spiritual aspect of her approach which comes through guiding the viewer, subconsciously, into scrutiny and appreciation of the minutest objects. Art, she believes, should transport one away from the drudgery of life.

 

She has been an active exhibitor across the country for almost a decade, including a solo at the Rust en Vrede gallery in Cape Town. 

 

Art always carries a message to the viewer, even if it’s just to reveal beauty.