Artwork by Olivia Longstaff

We are proud to feature the work of British artist Olivia Longstaff (MA in Painting, Royal College of Art, 2023). Her paintings enrich our office environment through their depth and material presence.

Olivia’s practice is rooted in an exploration of tension – between structure and collapse, certainty and uncertainty. Working primarily on a large scale with varying densities of oil paint, she layers and scrapes back the surface to create a dynamic interplay of gesture, mark, and depth. This process reflects her ongoing investigation into how order emerges from chaos and how meaning can exist within states of ambiguity.

For Olivia, art does not begin with knowledge alone; it is driven by the unconscious forces of desire, fear, and instinct. She embraces the unknown as a vital part of her creative process, navigating between clarity and confusion to reach moments of genuine expression. The resulting works possess a rare combination of control and spontaneity.

Her paintings have had a significant impact within our offices, transforming the atmosphere. The presence of her work reflects our commitment to supporting artistic talent and highlights the role that contemporary art can play in enriching a professional environment. Olivia’s distinctive practice and growing recognition within contemporary painting make her contribution an important part of our cultural and creative landscape.