London-based artist Georgia Semple is using distorted and warped figures in her paintings to explore the tension between perception and reality [1].

Her work addresses the psychological and spiritual shifts people undergo over time. By challenging the viewer's visual expectations, Semple aims to spark internal reflection on the stability of personal truth and memory.

Semple creates rich, layered compositions that feature figures lacking traditional proportions [1]. These visual distortions are intended to represent the "loss of perception" that individuals experience as they move through different stages of life [1]. The artist integrates themes of addiction and faith into these works, alongside elements of her Guyanese heritage [1, 2].

"It represents the loss of perception that one experiences throughout one's life," Semple said [1].

The artist uses her medium to prompt a dialogue between the canvas and the observer. She seeks to move beyond simple aesthetics to create a space where the audience must confront their own biases and beliefs [1]. Through this process, she hopes to encourage a deeper investigation into how individual identities are formed and eroded.

"I hope my paintings might prompt viewers to question their own truths," Semple said [1].

Beyond the exploration of perception, Semple uses her art to examine the role of spirituality in the human experience. She suggests that the warping of reality in her art mirrors the way faith manifests in diverse ways for different people [1].

"Or how faith might show up in their lives," Semple said [1].

“It represents the loss of perception that one experiences throughout one's life.”

Semple's work aligns with a broader movement in contemporary art that uses abstraction and distortion to represent internal psychological states. By linking personal heritage and struggle—such as addiction—to a universal loss of perception, she positions art as a tool for cognitive and spiritual interrogation rather than mere decoration.