The Maenads (early streakers)

Thrown to the wolves  2014

 20” x24” approx, oil on wooden panel

Untitled (distressed streaker) 2014

 4”x 4” approx Oil on wooden panel 

The Streaker series. Researched from lady streakers circa 1970/80.

Rebecca (streaker series) 2014

Emulating Lady Godiva, who had rode naked to protest against injustice hundreds of years before. 16” x16” approx Oil on wooden panel 

Sarah (streaker series) 2014

Leaping for joy, Wimbledon tennis tournament 1982. 16” x16” approx. Oil on wooden panel 

Lianne (streaker series) 2014 

Lianne said she did it because the game was "depressingly boring" at that point.

16” x16” approx. Oil on wooden panel 

Emma (streaker series) 2014

Having a transcendental moment after streaking at the Lords cricket ground

16” x 20” approx Oil on wooden panel 

Janine (streaker series) 2014

2003 Mascot Grand National at Huntingdon in September

 16” x16” approx Oil on wooden panel 

                                          

Joy (streaker series) 2014

Joy from Oxford made a stunning nude run at the World Championship Darts Match in Britain on the 8th January 2007 16” x16” approx Oil on wooden panel

Cynthia (streaker series) 2014

"This is the only way I can keep my sanity, what with being so involved with my children," she remarked. 16” x16” approx. Oil on wooden panel.

Flag streaker  (golf) 2014 

16 x 16” Oil on wooden panel 

Cathy (Streaker series) 2014

Cathy was working as a stripper, and had streaked at the request of her employer who funded the whole thing. 16” x16”. Oil on wooden panel 

Shirley (streaker series) 2014

"I have a list of things I want to do in life and that was one of them" 16” x16” approx

Oil on wooden panel 

Breeze streaker 2014 5’” x7”

Oil on wooden panel 

The Streakers

The Streaker paintings are all based on real streakers from the UK who made famous streaks across Lords cricket ground, Wimbledon in the 70's 80's etc. They are named and each title describes why they did it (‘to be free’, ‘bucket-list’, ‘the game was boring’ etc). 

The attempt here was to paint the female nude as seen via the female eye, where the ladies  have chosen nudity themselves, and where something other  than crude sexuality is being communicated. Something more empowered perhaps? I have enjoyed exploring the less acceptable side of feminine power while at the same time revisiting  my roots of portraiture.

emmagray1@mac.com

BIO

Emma Gray has worked in contemporary art in many iterations, most recently as an advisor and curator, building private collections and working in depth mentoring and fostering the careers of a small group of artists. Her Los Angeles project space 5 Car Garage, established in 2013, has been extensively covered in local press and in magazines such  as ArtForum, Frieze, Flash Art, ArtReview and Art in America. A former editor of ArtReview who studied  at University College London and studied portraiture at Heatherley Art School, London, she has been a secret painter for the past decade. Until now.