Shani Rhys James, Glass Vase II, 2024 Oil on linen 29 7/8 x 40 x 3/4 in, 76 x 101.5 x 2 cm
We're delighted to share Shani Rhys James represented in this year's Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.
Glass Vase II continues Rhys James's enduring exploration of the female figure within domestic space, confronting the viewer with a gaze that is at once questioning, challenging and engaging.
Set against a dark, ambiguous interior, an exuberant arrangment of flowers bursts into life. Lilies and gerberas bring moments of beauty, renewl and colour, illuminating the scene while simultaneously overshadowing the figure herself. As so often in Rhys James's work, light and darkness coexist, leaving space for multiple readings.
"Painting is about life." - Shani Rhys James
June 1, 2026
