By Emerging Artist Rhea Micallef Gavin
 
Rhea Micallef Gavin, Maltese background and based in London, she explores the relationship of social identity and the fashion industry through portraiture and print making. Repeatedly asking the question, “If our clothing is our direct expression of self, how has the current state of masculinity influenced fashion brands and identity? Rhea investigates this discussion through the use of delicate silhouette and bold colour achieved through oils. These oil paint prints aim to explore the idea of ‘’masculinity’’ in the gender conundrum that is today. Asking what it means to be a masculine woman and a not so masculine man in coherence with the fashion industry. Often there is an interchanging play between the media portraying us and us responding to the media. Rhea reflects this conversation in what she calls painted print work.This exploration started at Rhea’s first solo exhibition at The Crypt, a leading jazz club in Camberwell, which lead to being an artist at ‘Mxmen positive masculinity’ festival and was one of the artists in Woolwich contemporary print fair 2019, the UK’s largest print fair. Continually pursuing this investigation and further experimenting with the notions of gender her graduate collection was featured in publications such as, 10Magazine, Vogue Italia, Forbes, Love Magazine, and a featured interview with Twitch TV.
 
Print of orginial work
Size: 56cm x 39.5cm, Oil on Lokta Paper