The art world mourns the loss of Sarah Cunningham, a British artist whose work soared with vibrancy and fluidity. Cunningham's untimely passing in late 2024 marked the conclusion of a promising and impactful career that left an indelible mark on contemporary painting. Her final exhibition, Flight Paths, held at Lisson Gallery in Los Angeles, serves as a poignant and fitting reflection on her artistry, encapsulating her deep connection to nature, movement, and the spiritual.
Flight Paths: A Testament to Movement and Transformation
Flight Paths, Cunningham’s first solo show at Lisson Gallery, stands as a celebration of her boundless creativity and restless exploration of form and colour. The exhibition takes its name from a commanding diptych, symbolising her fascination with fluid motion and the ambiguity of direction. Cunningham’s work, characterised by sweeping brushstrokes and experimental techniques, captures the dynamism of both physical and metaphysical journeys. Her canvases explore the interplay between vertical and horizontal planes, invoking the viewer’s sense of orientation and defying conventional perspectives.
Each painting in the exhibition unfolds like a narrative, tracing a journey through time and space. Works such as Clouds Closed for Target Practice and Coral Chorus move effortlessly between sky and sea, reflecting the artist’s intuitive grasp of nature’s interconnectedness. Her experimental process—employing rags, dual brushes, and unconventional gestures—imbues the paintings with a raw, performative energy.
