Sleep Series (Tilly)

Tilly Cooke

Tilly Cooke creates paintings that celebrate the quiet yet profound relationships she shares with the women closest to her, finding beauty in the simplicity of everyday routines. Her work explores themes of self, identity, and the intimate connection between artist and subject, delving into deeply personal and private landscapes. Cooke nurtures her portraits through a smooth, layered application of oil paint mixed with linseed oil, crafting a rich, glistening surface that draws the viewer in.

Her intensely observed studies move away from traditional depictions of the feminine form, instead focusing on a delicate, understated intimacy. The resulting paintings are peaceful and honest, inviting the viewer into spaces that feel both deeply personal and universally familiar.

In her most recent series, Cooke shifts her focus to swimmers and the act of bathing, though she has also explored other themes, such as the vulnerability of people sleeping. These works elevate the pool to a near-mythological realm, using paint as a metaphor for water’s fluid and transformative nature, reflecting both physical and emotional states.