4me4you recently visited The General Assembly Gallery to see Slipping Through Skin, the latest solo exhibition by artist Louise Howard.
MY PROCESS
The exhibition marks Howard’s return with a powerful new series of eight large-scale figurative paintings that explore themes of identity, emotion, and the tension between being seen and remaining private.
“Slipping Through Skin”.
Her subjects, always women, feel emotionally present, yet there is still a sense of distance and mystery to them, as though they are revealing only what they choose to share.
Building on ideas from her previous exhibition Catfood and Wine, Howard pushes her work further through larger compositions, layered textures, and a stronger sense of atmosphere.
While earlier pieces introduced details such as hyperrealistic hands and a broader colour palette, Slipping Through Skin feels quieter and more reflective, focusing on the inner emotional lives of the figures.
In a time where so much of modern life revolves around visibility and constant self-exposure, Howard’s paintings offer something different.
Her figures are confident and present, yet they hold onto their own sense of privacy and emotional depth.
The result is a body of work that feels both intimate and guarded,inviting viewers in, while never fully giving everything away.