I love both art & fashion, so I was excited to attend Summer Rising, an art exhibition & fashion showcase by two extraordinary Perth women, artist Francesca Gnagnarella & designer of label Ethel & Leo, Jess Pollitt.
These two artists are firm friends & share a love of Perth’s coastal living. Their collaboration is a riot of colour & pattern & quintessentially Perth. Ethel & Leo will be using Francesca’s piece The Future Of Now as fabric for a limited edition silk line in the near future which I can’t wait to see. The Future of Now was my favourite work of Francesca’s on the night (I may have hinted to the hubby that it’s on my Christmas list!) & I can see the vision Jess has in incorporating it into Ethel & Leo’s designs.
Love brought Italian born artist, Francesca to Western Australia & created a new point of view to her art. Inspired by the light, sea & sand in a way that only Perth can, Francesca’s artwork is bold & striking, but also soft & subtle. Her use of gold leaf in her works is a constant reminder of the sun playing along our coastline & over the river that Francesca’s home in Fremantle overlooks.
Francesca’s artwork would suit a vast variety of tastes & styles. Her pieces were displayed throughout her gorgeous North Fremantle apartment, showcasing the versatility of her pieces to compliment spaces in homes & commercial premises alike. Check out the view of the river from her balcony below!! Breathtaking!
Elthel & Leo creator Jess, is a Perth girl, raised in the South West & like Francesca, inspired by the shapes & colours of the sun & the sea. Hard work, study & ambition has seen Jess achieve amazing results at the ripe old age of 27! Her label, Ethel & Leo is a proudly Australian made product. The artwork, printing & fabric is all made & produced in Australia. Bold & colourful, her fabric designs are a refection of her surroundings & her own quirky style. The pieces fitting seamlessly into Perth’s laid back lifestyle.
Ethel & Leo has proudly shown at both Sydney & Perth Fashion Weeks, & Jess has recently opened her first store in Perth’s fashion hub, Claremont Quarter.
I promised Jess I would drop into the store in the next week or so to see the latest range, so stay tuned for that, I may have to make a sneaky purchase or two!
For more information on where you can see & buy Francesca’s beautiful work, you can find her on Facebook & Instagram.
For more Ethel & Leo, their amazing prints & their store locations, there’s Facebook & Instagram.
It was truly great to meet two inspiring female West Australian artists. Have a look at their websites & support our local talent (even if you’re not local, you’ll still love it I promise!)
