Commanding the composition with an unwavering gaze, 'I Choose Passion' is an original mixed-media portrait on aluminium by British contemporary artist Louise Dear. Part of her Compact Classics collection, the work revisits one of Dear's established female icons through a more distilled visual language, allowing expressive line, radiant colour and the reflective metallic surface to take the lead.

Confident, magnetic and fiercely individual, 'I Choose Passion' feels less like a portrait of a woman and more like a declaration of intent. Facing the viewer directly, Dear's heroine possesses an extraordinary sense of self-assurance. Her sculptural swept-back hair, piercing blue eyes and vivid lips are defined through fluid black line, while bands of electric pink, orange and gold move unapologetically across her face and body.

The effect is both glamorous and rebellious. Rather than using colour simply to describe the figure, Dear allows it to travel through her, creating a portrait in which identity, emotion and surface become inseparable. Delicate outlined flowers gather around the lower composition, introducing softness against the strength of her gaze. There is vulnerability and femininity here, but neither diminishes her power.

That confidence feels particularly appropriate to the title. 'I Choose Passion' suggests agency; the conscious decision to embrace colour, feeling and individuality rather than retreat from them. Within Dear's exuberant artistic world, passion becomes something to be worn visibly, bold, joyful and entirely unapologetic.

The Compact Classics see Dear return to some of her most recognisable and collected imagery with a deliberately lighter touch. Having honed her distinctive mixed-media practice over many years, the artist strips back additional embellishment and allows the strength of her original drawing to become an important decorative element in its own right. The result has an immediacy that feels fresh while remaining unmistakably Louise Dear.

Created on aluminium using mixed media including gloss paint, gold leaf, diamond dust and glitter, 'I Choose Passion' is transformed by light. The exposed metallic ground creates a luminous backdrop to saturated pigment and sparkling surface details, giving the original a depth and physical presence that photography can only partially convey.

At 70 × 50cm, 'I Choose Passion' represents an exceptional entry point into Louise Dear's original portfolio. Conceived to open original ownership to a wider circle of collectors, the Compact Classics offer one-off original works that celebrate the imagery and techniques for which Dear has become known.

For a collector looking for an artwork with presence, optimism and attitude, 'I Choose Passion' delivers all three, an unapologetic celebration of living, feeling and choosing boldly.

Specifications

• Medium: Original work on aluminium: mixed media including gloss paint, gold leaf, diamond dust and glitter.
• Image Size: 70 x 50 cm / 27.55" x 19.68"  
• Frame Size: 75 x 55 cm / 29.52" x 21.65"
• Frame: Slim White Matte Tray Frame.

Designed to be enjoyed unframed, the artwork is supplied ready to hang with fixings that leave its beautifully finished aluminium edges exposed for a clean, contemporary presentation. Alternatively, a slim white matte tray frame is available at an additional charge, creating an elegant framed finish while retaining the artwork’s modern aesthetic.