This Frieze Week, Ronchini Gallery opens the doors to its brand-new Mayfair space with Flourish: Gestural Abstractions in Bloom, a multigenerational, multi-cultural group show celebrating the work of female artists who are pushing the language of abstraction in fresh directions.
Among them is London-based artist Connie Harrison, whose practice is rooted in her love of the natural world. Starting with her own photographs of ancient woodlands, gardens, and floral scenes, Connie transforms these images into richly textured landscapes through her unique process of layering wax paste and oil paint, carving lines, and building rhythmic, colourful compositions. The result is work that feels alive with movement and emotion — playful, intuitive, and full of discovery. For Connie, each painting becomes an imagined landscape, a path she finds as she makes it, inviting us to wander with her through its twists, turns, and bursts of colour.
You’re showing work in Flourish: Gestural Abstractions in Bloom, the first exhibition in Ronchini’s new Mayfair space. Did you create new pieces specifically for the show, and beyond responding to the theme, did the character of the building itself influence your work in any way?
I haven’t seen the new space inside. I’m presenting a work which was made during a slight transitional period. I think that’s interesting to exhibit in a space which is also new to the Gallery. Unfamiliarity and a new space for discovery.
Have you crossed paths with any of the other exhibiting artists before, and do you see a visual or thematic conversation unfolding between your works in the space?
I have never exhibited with the other Artists in this show. From what I’ve seen each Artist has their own strong style. I’m very excited to see the works together and in person. I think when works are responding to nature there is often an interest in the material and how the Artist uses the paint to ‘feel’ the scene. The texture and layers particularly.
The show brings together artists whose practices weave together gestural abstraction, floral motifs, and references to landscape. Could you share a bit about the work you’re presenting, what inspired it and how it came to life in the studio?
I started working on this particular piece at the beginning of this year when I was going through a transitional period. During this time you are pushing aspects or circling back to previous paths that once came to a dead end. Some works resolve quickly but this piece came on a journey with me. It changed so much during those months. Which is why it stands alone amongst the other works in my studio at the moment. This one piece holds a lot which is why I chose it to represent my work in a group setting, it can stand alone whilst having conversations with other Artists works.
Instead of working from a landscape, I combine two or more compositions of flora/fauna. Working between the two and choosing which sections to reveal, include or flatten. Bringing sections of the composition into the foreground or background.They become entwined. I make a landscape out of these compositions by finding or feeling my own route through it. One that is playful and unknown. This is how the imagined landscape comes to life. My process also includes a layer of a wax paste which I spread between the oil paint/compositions. This allows me to come back to previous layers clearly, sculpt into and add depth to the paint. Referencing sedimentary layers in the landscape too. As well as hovering colours and marks which gives my work movement, like it’s in constant flux/cycle. I blend the compositions using impressionist techniques. Inspired by Artist such as Monet, Pierre Bonnard, Gustav Kilmt, with my own modern twist.
It’s exciting to see four women artists from three continents coming together in a prominent London gallery during Frieze Week. How important is it to you to see platforms like this supporting women and artists from diverse cultural backgrounds?
Incredibly important. This is my first experience exhibiting work in a Gallery during Frieze week. What’s exciting about this week is the variety in Art that makes its way to London. Inspiration, techniques, styles that have evolved from different countries and traditions is what keeps our own work open to creativity. As well as the conversations that come with that.
Flourish: Gestural Abstractions in Bloom is at Ronchini Gallery in London from 15th October 2025 until 16th January, 2026.
