Isabelle du Toit

Cris Worley is proud to present Refuge – Isabelle du Toit. This will be du Toit’s fifth solo exhibition with the gallery. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, November 18, from 4 to 7 p.m. Refuge will include new oil-on-canvas wildlife paintings exploring the ideas of safety, home, and comfort. The exhibition will be on view through December 30.

In Refuge, du Toit taps into a recent collective unconscious exploration of home and shelter. The pandemic, current world events, and natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, which ripped through du Toit’s South Florida home, have laid bare the fragility of our shelter and safety. Du Toit states, “As an immigrant, the idea of refuge has always been an aspect of life that I like to explore…I’m intrigued by what shelter means to different people. Is it your house, your country, your community, your children, a spouse, a familiar surrounding, a job, or even your belongings?”

The fragility of a familiar, safe, and healthy place to thrive has also haunted our natural world due to human mismanagement of ecosystems. In du Toit’s paintings, expertly crafted birds and frogs sit in her signature style, centered on a canvas of velvety black. Under a spotlight, these inquisitive creatures are vulnerable to their observers, clinging to one last piece of their natural environment for safety. The stark surrounding creates an uncomfortable yet striking background for the stunning beauty of each bird and amphibian to shine. The mushroom and stick props are a nod to Northern Georgia, where du Toit and her husband have and continue to find refuge after Hurricane Ian.

Deeply involved in wildlife conservation, du Toit explores our responsibility to preserve the natural world and ensure all species, including our own, find shelter and survival. Each canvas asks us what part we want to play in the future of our world - as a voyeur, predator, or savior.

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Refuge

November 18 – December 30, 2023

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