Two WA artists are bringing their distinctive creative styles together in a Perth exhibition celebrating women, individuality and self-expression.
Contemporary painter Cher can Schouwen and artist and fashion designer Kaye Guthrie Adonis will showcase their work in Convergence, a joint exhibition at AKA.ARTWEAR Studio on Murray Street from Thursday, October 22, to Thursday, November 5.
The exhibition will feature original paintings, mixed-media works and hand-painted wearable art, exploring the connections between contemporary art and fashion.
Van Schouwen will exhibit about a dozen original paintings, incorporating expressive colour, texture and mixed media, with a butterfly appearing in every piece as a symbol of transformation, femininity and vulnerability.
Two works will push beyond traditional canvases, as she paints directly onto glass doors.
Adonis will present about 15 to 20 original artworks alongside pieces from her AKA.ARTWEAR Spring/Summer 2027 collection, No Ordinary Wife.
Her street-couture aesthetic combines collage, ink, aerosol, paint, embroidery and fabric to transform original artwork into one-of-a-kind garments.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is Happy Wednesday, the only collaborative work created by the pair.
The painting brings together expressive figures, loose gestures, graffiti-inspired marks and spontaneous colour, exploring joy, individuality and how people can interpret the same work artwork differently.
Despite their contrasting approaches, both artists said their collections shared a common thread of celebrating women and embracing individuality.
“We created two very different collections, yet without planning it they have come together in such a powerful, playful celebration of the female spirit,” van Schouwen said.
For Adonis, the exhibition is a tribute to the women who have shaped her life and an opportunity to encourage others to embrace their differences.
“I hope this exhibition leaves a positive message — that being different is something to celebrate, and that our individuality can be our greatest form of expression,” she said.
The collaboration began when Adonis invited Van Schouwen to exhibit at her Murray Street studio.
Rather than deliberately creating complementary pieces, the artists developed their collections independently before bringing them together for Convergence.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to hear directly from the artists during two Chat with the Artists sessions on October 25 and November 1, from noon to 1.30pm.
The exhibition will be held at AKA,ARTWEAR Studio, 410 Murray Street, Perth, and will be open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm. Appointments are also available.