Bio

Celine Ali is a London-based artist whose practice explores and alludes to the concept of the multiplicity of identity, human connectivity, emotional intimacy, questioning unconventional ideas of gender identity and social ideals through abstract and vibrant visual compositions.

She spent her childhood navigating between the two cultures of Romania and her ethnic country, Turkey. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Northumbria University Newcastle (2019) and recently, she completed her Masters’ degree in Fine Art at London Metropolitan (2021).

Her work has been shown internationally at: ‘Biennale of Chianciano’ (Italy) where she was also awarded ‘Leonardo Award, Young Artist’, ‘Autumn Exhibition’ at ‘Real Academia de Bellas Artes de Santa Isabel de Hungria Sevilla’ (Spain), ‘Ethics DNA of Art’ at ‘The New Florence Biennale’ (Italy) and 'Biennale Florence - Eternal Feminine | Eternal Change' (Italy) and many other solo exhibitions in her home country, Romania. 

Her practice is a mixture of figurative and abstract with a surrealist aesthetic and cubist influences. Hence, Celine is interested in creating dream-like imagery with rich, vibrant end ecstatic colours, full of mystery which are like an invitation to explore her own thoughts. 

She is primarily working on large canvases with acrylic and oil colours and the process behind her paintings is based on haptic and intuitive explorations of serendipitous forms and the abstraction of fragmented bodies.

Celine is primarily inspired by social issues, gender equality, cultural diversity but, she does get inspiration from random and quotidian things like music or just a simple walk-in nature, things that are nostalgic to her personal experience as well as from influential artists like Picasso, Paul Gaugain, Michael Armitage, Tracey Emin, Louis Bourgeois, Marc Chagall.

She always considered her art to be a direct extension of her emotions, thoughts, fears, dreams, impulses, insecurities, triumphs, and so on. However personal, her work has always upheld a social consciousness, and she strives for it to be informed not only by her authentic visions but in some way to function as a voice for the unheard society. 

www.celineali.art

Statement

My art practice explores figures from partially abstracted, deconstructed, and fragmented bodies that challenge the physical and spatial limitations of the human condition which ultimately propose a dialogue between bodies.

My visual compositions challenge and question unconventional ideas of gender identity, emotional and physical intimacy, beauty ideals, sexuality, and ambiguous relationships.

Eluding predominantly women caught up in an ambiguous romantic relationship, I want to reflect tenderness, desire, and seduction. I am interested in using the abstract figures to talk about the concept of identity that we have, it is less about an actual and specific person, that’s why I don’t draw the faces of the figures. I want to create ambiguity so that each of us can be found in my paintings.  

Nature and its mysteries play an important aspect in my imagery, as in most of my narratives I try to integrate inherently figurative flowers, vegetation, or blurred landscapes. I consider that nature is a traditional subject matter of still life which is a real test of the painter's ability to invent.  

The voluptuous, imperfect, and curved bodies parts reflect the essence of femininity which are influenced by the fluid and organic forms of nature. The figures that I portray in my paintings draw a clear parallel that questions the beauty ideals body shapes and standards that are dominating the society nowadays, in which perfection prevails.

In my paintings, I am interested in creating the antithesis and the contrast between the fragility and power of human nature. Evoking fragility through the lens of simultaneous vulnerability and strength, my body of work deals with the different facets of femininity questioning the restrictive and uncomfortable boundaries that are inflicted on people by cultural paradigms of gender and ideals.

The colour palette that I use navigates from pale and sickly-sweet pastels through more violent and bright bloody pinks, reds, oranges, and greens. The fragility and the strength of the narrative are emphasised using colour which fluctuates between ethereal layers of bold and bright colours. 

What continues to motivate you to create your work?

My motivation to create a new painting comes from an inner desire to caption emotion through my paintings. I am driven by an innate, compulsive, and continuous desire to create new artworks. So, I create because I want to express and let out my emotions, my insecurities, and vulnerabilities. Art is a part of me that constantly feeds my soul and I am motivated to create as I can't imagine a day without painting or sketching something.  

Ultimately, I am motivated to have a voice through my art in the plagued society and I hope that one day I will be able to influence as many people as possible, especially women.

Who or what influences your practice?

I am primarily inspired by societal issues, gender equality, and cultural diversity, but I do get inspiration from random and quotidian things like music or just a simple walk in nature. Things that are nostalgic to my personal experience as well as from influential artists like Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Michael Armitage, Tracey Emin, Alice Neel also influence me.

I’ve always considered my art to be a direct extension of me: my emotions, thoughts, fears, dreams, impulses, insecurities, triumphs, and so on. However personal, my work has always upheld a social consciousness, and I strive for it to be informed not only by my own authentic visions but in some way to function as a voice for the unheard in society.

How would you describe the mood of your work?

Bold and ecstatic.

What do you feel is the most challenging part of being an artist?

Probably the challenging part for me as an artist is to allow mistakes in my art process and understand that anger or frustration means progress and make each art piece even more real.

Another challenge for me would be the fact that I never feel that a painting is completely finished. Even after I think I'm done and I have left the studio, I still have the need to add more to the canvas and it's never finished in my vision.

Tell us about something from your creative life that you are particularly proud of.

I am really proud of shifting my art passion into a full-time art career. Two years ago, I have never imagined that I can do art as a full-time artist and to make an income from it.