Milly Thompson: My Body Temperature Is Feeling Good
Opening 28 March 2026, Milly Thompson’s painting drew inspiration from a wide range of influences, including Francis Picabia, Shirley Valentine, Jean Rhys, Japanese woodcuts, and even emojis.
This diverse array of sources helps establish a relaxed, indulgent visual style that portrays everything from cellulite and sunbathing to lobster with sorbet. Works like Hunter Watching the Beach (2016) and La Vergne in the Afternoon (2017) embody her playful reappropriation of the exoticised and eroticised female nude, reinterpreting this traditional art trope through a contemporary lens by integrating middle-aged bodies in vivid, sun-bleached hues. Later works, such as Temple Creation (2020) and Scuba Sauvage Azure Bleu (2021), introduce bold new visual approaches, blending ink washes, experimental canvases, fluid lines, and emoji symbolism.
These pieces articulate the struggles and triumphs of the female body gaining agency amidst the distorting pressures of mediated beauty standards.
