Artists Lydia Pettit and Olivia Sterling in Conversation: On Self Portraiture, The Void and Bitches In Heat

Gina Tonic, Polyesterzine, 23 Jul 2024

From their first discovery of one another’s work at the Royal College of Art in 2020, Lydia Pettit and Olivia Sterling felt destined to show their work together. Both (mainly) painters who explore the body in their work - although inarguably, very different ways - it’s taken four years to pull together their joint show Bitches In Heat

As well as working together on the dog themed exhibition, Sterling and Pettit have had stacked schedules this year, with Sterling currently participating in the A Feast For The Eyes group show Guts Gallery and Pettit’s short film, The Body which will be shown at The Amory Show in September, has been making waves for its mastery of horror to explore complex themed of corporality and trauma. The two artists joined us in our studio to discuss their different takes on horror, fat representation and dog metaphors. 

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