London’s Wallace Collection will showcase the work of the young British artist Flora Yukhnovich, known for her reinterpretation of Rococo masters. The summer exhibition, situated on the grand staircase landing at Hertford House, will take the place of two iconic pieces by the French painter François Boucher.
The artistic juxtaposition pays homage to Boucher’s influence, showcasing Yukhnovich’s unique approach to contemporizing Rococo themes within the prestigious setting of the Wallace Collection. In her remarks, Yukhnovich expressed a deep connection to the Wallace Collection, noting that she has been visiting the institution since her student days to immerse herself in the 18th century and study the Boucher paintings.
Yukhnovich articulates her approach, expressing a fascination with combining the gendered aesthetics of Rococo imagery and the machismo of abstraction. According to her, abstraction and figuration form integral parts of a spectrum rather than distinct entities.
Presently, Yukhnovich’s artwork is showcased at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. The anticipation for her upcoming exhibition at the Wallace Collection coincides with a surge in demand for her distinctive work within the art market. Yukhnovich has achieved remarkable commercial success, as evidenced by the substantial auction prices her works command. Reflecting on her meteoric rise in the art market, she maintains a grounded perspective, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus in her studio amidst external acclaim.
Born in Norwich, United Kingdom in 1990, Yukhnovich is a graduate of City & Guilds of London Art School, where she earned her MA in Fine Art in 2017. She challenges established notions of power within art history with references drawn from contemporary films, music, literature, and consumer culture. Her work critically examines hierarchies, particularly by questioning embedded notions of femininity and gender in the aesthetic language of color and form.
