Stories of belonging - Colleen Heslin
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Colleen Heslin
May 29-July 24, 2025
Artist Talk and Opening Reception – Thursday, May 29th 5:30 to 8pm
Stories of belonging by Colleen Heslin is an installation of six hand-dyed, sewn monochrome abstract paintings that explore colour theory and queer pride. Each work reflects on progressive stages of spiritual, emotional, and psychological awakening brought on by social disconnection and generational dysfunction within western culture. These paintings echo shifts towards presence and self-awareness, from unconscious to consciously bringing attention to subtle nuances within colour spectrums. The painting series maps out pathways for authentic experiences through an abundance of colour. The intensity of these visual wavelength vibrations activates an immersive emotional somatic response. The scale of the work and intensity of colour draws attention to the present moment—It is soft and humble in form, inviting connections and attention to details within.
Colleen Heslin’s practice is guided within a rhizomatic and deeply intuitive framework, influenced by their experience of being queer and neurodiverse, living in a rural setting. Their interest and sensitivity to colour as somatic and emotional is something that they have hyper-focused on for the last decade. The utility of abstraction and relativity of colour within this project is important for its relationship to emotion, the body, and regulating systems. Abstraction works within a shadow framework and is received through a somatic experience.
Within their work, Heslin strives to share their expansive and emotional understanding of colour and form, while engaging the viewer in a way that evokes feelings, not thoughts. Feeling feelings and trusting them is a generative practice and a valuable, healing form of communication that connects the viewer to their own body.
Join us at the gallery for the Artist Talk and Exhibition Opening on Thursday, May 29th from 5:30 to 8pm.
Thank you to our funders the London Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts and the London Community Foundation for their support to make our exhibitions and programming free and accessible for all.
