Chloe Barnes (U4-123) presents Atalanta in the Thames-Side Studio Lounge, a whimsical collection of monotypes and charcoal studies inspired by the Greek Heroine of Hunting.

Drawing influence from Paula Rego, Chloe embodied Atalanta by dressing as the heroine and re-enacted scenes from the myth to produce her reference imagery; weaving her personal experiences and childhood memories directly into the narrative. Her portrayal explores themes of defiance, female empowerment, and resilience, enhanced by anthropomorphic figures that invite viewers into a world where the familiar meets the fantastical.

From charcoal drawings to monotype studies to final mono-printed artworks, the show also presents Chloe's artistic process, advocating a medium predominantly known for its experimentation.


About the artist
Chloe Barnes (b. 1996) is an award-winning artist based in London, creating figurative monotypes that explore identity, focusing on sexuality, emotion, and the experiences of women, including her own. Her work reinterprets outward appearances through distorted forms and masked faces, encouraging viewers to see themselves in the subjects and find resonance in the familiar and the reimagined.

Each piece begins with a feeling, which Chloe follows freely, embracing the speed constraints and unpredictability of the mono-printing process to ‘paint with print’ and push against conventional ideas of perfection. Intuitive mark-making, expressive movements, and ‘mistakes’ are all integral to her approach: ink can smear, lines can bleed, and the mirrored image can look entirely different from the painted plate. By exploring her own experience through artistic introspection, she also aims to empower others to see themselves in new ways, outside of the personal, familial, and societal expectations to conform to traditional gender roles, authority, and power dynamics.

Chloe graduated with an MA (Distinction) in Multi-Disciplinary Printmaking from the University of the West of England in January 2023. Her work has been exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy, Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, and the Royal Society of British Artists Bicentennial Exhibition, where she won the Hahnemühle Fine Art Award. In 2023, she was selected as a finalist for the ACS Studio Prize and The Margate Art Prize - judged by Tracey Emin - and most recently, Chloe was awarded the Hesketh Hubbard Bursary 2025.

Follow Chloe on Instagram @chloe_barnes_artist

Thames-Side Studios Lounge is located on the second floor of Unit 0 and open to all studio holders and by appointment.