Lucy Dodd Transforms Scottish Peat Into Art For London Show

(MENAFN- USA Art News) Artist Lucy Dodd has incorporated Scottish peat, along with local botanicals and powdered rock, into her latest series of abstract paintings currently on view in London. These works are featured in her new exhibition,“The good, the true, and the beautiful,” at Sprüth Magers.

Dodd's artistic process often begins with an archetype that resonates on personal, collective, and mythical levels. For this exhibition, she selected Artemis, the Greek goddess associated with the hunt, wilderness, and the moon. This choice is personally linked to Dodd's grandmother, who shared the Roman name for Artemis, Diana. The artist also draws a collective connection to Diana, Princess of Wales, viewing her as an embodiment of a woman pursued for her desire for autonomy, mirroring Artemis's defense of independence.

The materials for the works, all created this year, emerged from Dodd's relocation with her family from New York to Scotland's rugged Moray Coast, near Inverness. The peat utilized in the paintings originated from the 2025 Dava Moor wildfires, subsequently washed down the Findhorn River to the shore. These materials include herbs named for Artemis, such as mugwort and wormwood, as well as flower essences and powdered rock. Dodd noted that these are her darkest and moodiest paintings to date, yet she sees them as being about“finding the light.”

Dodd described the peat she collects as“beautiful, rounded, almond-shaped pellets” that are sterile due to saltwater exposure. She also gathers water from the Findhorn River and creates flower essences that are blended into her pigments.“Everything is energy, so everything that goes into the paintings influences them,” Dodd said.“The water has the magical properties of each of those flowers instead of chlorine and fluoride. It's like making a cauldron, making a potion, being intentional about what goes in.”

The artist explained that much of this new body of work explores themes of“power and transformation.” She recalled a walk with her cousin, discussing the challenges of maturity and embracing the“fullness of being a mature woman.” Dodd sees this as tapping into“the wisdom of all of your grandmothers.” Visually, the exhibition exclusively features feminine forms, with no right angles; all works have rounded corners, or are circular or teardrop-shaped.“It's the first show I've done that really embraces feminine forms: no squares, all round,” Dodd stated.

The exhibition“The good, the true, and the beautiful” is on view at Sprüth Magers, 7A Grafton Street, London, through October 24.

Source: Artnet News

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