Arundel Contemporary

“Art has been a constant companion throughout my life, shaping my experiences, passions, and creative expression. It is through my art that I aspire to bring the viewer into a world of vibrant colour, captivating compositions, and powerful narratives, inviting them to share in the beauty that exists in the ordinary and the extraordinary alike.”

Naomi Munuo grew up surrounded by her artistic family and their creations and finds – sculptures, ceramic ornaments, fabrics, and abstract paintings. This left a mark on her: she continues to draw inspiration from her own collections of objects and artefacts today.

In 1992, Naomi obtained a degree in fashion design from Central St Martins, where she had nurtured a love for colour, pattern, narrative and illustrating the female form. However, upon the arrival of her firstborn, soon after graduating, she made the decision to forgo a career in fashion design and instead follow her instincts to paint.

Three daughters later, Naomi had established herself as a fulltime art teacher, later to become a faculty leader of Arts and Senior leader within the school. During this time, she set herself to producing and exhibiting her paintings, alongside the teaching. She spent every available moment observing and painting still life scenes in her home studio. These scenes often revolved around her father’s sculptures and her mother’s cherished collections of objects and artefacts.

One can perhaps discern her deep admiration for the 20th-century modern masters, but her artistic expression is also heavily influenced by her family and her surroundings. Naomi’s work undeniably embraces femininity, portraying strong female characters engaged in introspection, conversation, and everyday rituals such as reading, sewing, or enjoying tea, often set in a holiday ambiance. The bold palette and unapologetically adorned compositions are hallmarks of her art, with the figures’s forms exuding sculptural confidence.

2024 Her Strength. Solo show. Arundel Contemporary, Arundel, West Sussex 5 October – 17 November