Olly & Suzi

Wolf
aquarelle on paper


“Olly & Suzi are an artist duo whose art-making process is directly coupled with their journey, which they describe as a collaborative, mutual response to nature at its most primitive and wild. Painting together at the same time on the same piece of work, the majority of Olly & Suzi’s art is produced out on location in diverse and remote environments in close proximity to animals, subsequently making the wild their studio. Often endangered, the animals and the surroundings in which they live are the primary subject of their work.

Focusing on representation and symbolism, Olly and Suzi’s aim is to raise awareness and understanding of their subject matter. Sometimes the animal will be presented almost as an icon; singular, primitive and large in relation to the paper, and sometimes a landscape is present and a heard or migration is incorporated into the work. In both cases, the artists strive to create clarity and ambiguity in the same painting; educating and prompting curiosity to equal effect.”


Grizzly aquarelle, sepia and oilstick on linen


“Often the track, print or bite of an animal may be incorporated into the work in an attempt to document the habitat of a creature that may soon be extinct. The artists see this interaction as form of primal investigation; evidence to an event that will never occur in the same way again.

Olly & Suzi continue to travel the globe in the search of preserving the memory and existence of endangered creatures.

Olly & Suzi have been making art together since they met at Central St. Martins School of Art in 1987. Their on-going collaboration was cemented whilst on D.I.P.A Scholarship to Syracuse University in New York State in 1988/89. It was during their early journeys throughout America that they first encountered Native American Indian art and mythology. Inspired by the underlying respect for nature and animals inherent in indigenous art, they decided to formalise their mission as artists; to make art in response to their own journeys, the wild and Nature.”

Please visit Olly & Suzi’s website to learn about, and see more of, their work.

[Citation: Text reproduced from Eyestorm. ‘Wolf’ image reproduced from Olly & Suzi’s website. ‘Grizzly’ image reproduced from Clive James’ website.]