Few objects are quite so ordinary, or quite so capable of transporting us back in time. In 'OXO', British contemporary artist Louise Dear transforms one of Britain's most familiar household icons into an exuberant one-of-a-kind mixed-media original on aluminium, bringing together nostalgia, flowers and the saturated colour for which her work is celebrated.

At its heart sits the unmistakable red OXO tin; once an everyday presence in countless British kitchens, here elevated into an object of affection and nostalgia. From it erupts an extravagant arrangement of orange, pink and blue flowers, spilling across a brilliant turquoise ground. Glittering details, expressive marks and the graphic typography of the tin create a joyful collision between the familiar and the unexpected.

The idea has roots in Dear's years in Devon, when wildflowers gathered on a sunrise walk found their way into a discarded Marmite pot in her Totnes studio. The resulting paintings were quickly collected and later inspired her first commissioned works for London's Daisy Green restaurants and cocktail bars.

Now living in Peyriac-de-Mer in southern France, Dear has amassed her own collection of nostalgic British memorabilia. When she finally succeeded in growing daffodils on her Mediterranean terrace, the experience reignited her fascination with the familiar objects and flowers that can carry us instantly back to another place and time.

That sentiment runs through 'OXO'. Perhaps it recalls a childhood kitchen, Sunday lunches or a much-loved family recipe, because the most ordinary objects can hold the most extraordinary memories. Dear takes that familiarity and makes it newly desirable: part contemporary still life, part celebration of British visual culture, and unmistakably her own.

Unlike the deliberately distilled Compact Classics, 'OXO' is an entirely new composition, conceived and developed as an original artwork in its own right. Created on aluminium using gloss paint, glitter and sparkling crystals, this 50 × 50cm original combines expressive drawing, vivid colour and jewel-like embellishment in a surface that comes alive with changing light.

For collectors drawn to art with both story and spirit, 'OXO' is a wonderfully contemporary piece of nostalgia - familiar enough to stir a memory, yet transformed into something entirely new.

Specifications

• Medium: Original mixed-media work on a slim-profile aluminium panel. Materials include gloss paint, glitter and sparkling crystals.
• Image Size: 50 x 50 x 2cm / 19.68" x 19.68" x 0.78" 

Designed to be displayed unframed, the artwork is created on an aluminium panel with a beautifully slim profile, allowing its contemporary edges to remain exposed as part of the finished presentation. Bespoke framing is also available at an additional charge; we recommend securing the original first, then speaking with our gallery team after purchase to explore framing options tailored to the artwork and your interior if required.