Aneira Thomas – winner of the public vote

Aneira Thomas: Winner of the Emerging Art Prize Public Vote

Aneira Thomas has been selected as the winner of the Public Vote for the New Blood Art Emerging Art Prize.

Her paintings carry a distinct vertical rhythm – unusual in contemporary painting. They use rich, layered colour and repeated motifs to create works that feel both structured and free. There’s a kind of upright movement in them, a contemplative clarity. They work especially well in narrow spaces – those overlooked architectural gaps where art becomes presence.

 

Aneira’s practice is slow, deliberate, and materially grounded. She makes her own paints, hand-stretches her canvases, and works in a vertical format that feels both formal and instinctive. There’s an attentiveness in the process that carries through—something measured, composed, and deeply present.

Her work draws from close, quiet observation. Through layering, repetition, and abstraction, she slows the act of looking. These are paintings that don’t rush to be read. They ask you to stay with the surface, to notice what’s forming. Not symbols, not statements—just patterns, textures, rhythms.

Aneira was also awarded the 2024 Helen Gregory Purchase Prize, and her work is beginning to gather attention. A small selection is available through the gallery.

Thank you to all who voted.