Adventurous energies, lively colors, and intricate patterns define Monica Rohan’s captivating artworks. Drawing from her upbringing in the idyllic rural expanses of Queensland, Australia, Rohan infuses her paintings with a vibrant sense of exploration and wonder that echoes her childhood experiences. Her art celebrates the essence of youthful freedom, capturing spontaneous adventures in fantastical landscapes. Each piece is a harmonious symphony of color, where energetic children are entwined with immersive patterns that echo the intricate rugs of her inspirations. The rural backdrop of her upbringing becomes the canvas upon which she channels her vivid memories, crafting visual stories that transport the observer into a magical realm of playful discovery.
Rohan’s work is significantly influenced by Édouard Vuillard’s painting, “Interior, Mother, and Sister of the Artist”, which left a profound impact on her artistic journey. Echoing Vuillard’s use of thick, ornamental backgrounds that seamlessly integrate with the subject, Rohan creates a tapestry of living art. Her fascination with patterns serves not only as a visual delight but also as a narrative tool, weaving stories of childhood adventures hidden within the kaleidoscope of design. Through her spirited brushwork and intricate detailing, Monica Rohan succeeds in creating an imaginative world where art, nature, and nostalgia converge to celebrate the beauty and freedom of youthful exploration.
My dad’s a dairy farmer so I grew up on a property in the Kerry Valley in the Gold Coast hinterlands. I spent a lot of my childhood and teens just wandering around the hills, having free rein there. My parents let me go to art lessons, and I was always pretty focused. I could spend hours and hours drawing all the time. I was also the youngest; my siblings are quite older than me so I had a lot of time left to my own devices. (…) Particularly one painting [has influenced], Édouard Vuillard’s ‘Interior, Mother and Sister of the Artist’, 1893. In the work, there are two figures, especially the sister who is standing and stooping and blending into the wallpaper. There is this really intense pattern behind her, I think that was a pretty major revelation to me. As well as that, Amy Cutler, an American artist, has also done weird figures with patterns.
Monica Rohan
More info: Instagram (h/t: Artist Profile Magazine).
