Head Full of Sky Drawing

Artist’s statement My art explores the places beyond reason and the banality of everyday existence. It is sometimes purely whimsical and at others, darker and more thought-provoking. The themes expressed always relate back to a place where more is possible, where we meet - unknown and unseen - in the collective unconscious. This art is a manifestation of an urgent, unquenchable need for the expression of years of unspoken truths. I draw inspiration from classic surrealism and street art alike, and I think there is something in my work for everyone. In my whimsical pieces, I draw on my love of fairytales and magical realism to create worlds to inspire and delight. In my more serious work I deconstruct feelings, thoughts and societal norms and examine them through the lens of my personal paradigm. My love of Jungian theory, anatomy and biology has enabled me to discover and express powerful and emotive symbolism which is both deeply personal but also strives to appeal to the depth in others. Biography Niki McQueen is a self-taught artist, graphic designer, communications coordinator, and marine biologist from Cape Town, South Africa. As we went into hard lockdown in March 2020 as the COVID pandemic swept the globe, she rediscovered and developed an old technique of making art she learned at school using solvent printing and mixed media. Under the psychological and emotional pressure of a world gone mad, she found a way of staying sane through making art. It has been and continues to be a prolific expression of years of unsaid words and unthought thoughts. She has always been drawn to the places and spaces beyond the mundane, and she draws inspiration from surrealism and magical realism. Themes in her work encompass psychology, fairytales, whimsy, humour and the macabre. She uses stock and hand-drawn images to create digital collages, which are turned into hand-printed compositions that express her fascination with science, anatomy, biology, conservation and the human mind. Every work tells a story, be it personal or magical – the viewer is invited to explore meaning in their own interpretation of the work. She also produces portrait work, which is hand-drawn using fineliner and brush markers. Niki, who sold nearly 100 artworks during the lockdown period, including portraits and commissions and has works displayed in galleries throughout South Africa, and seeks to broaden her viewership to the global market.