Multifaceted Woman: Exploring Identity Through Abstraction
Multifaceted Woman: Celebrating the Whole Self
We are all many different, wonderful things that make one gloriously whole person.
This December, Seventh Circle is beyond proud to welcome Clare Garrad to the gallery with her debut collection, Facets of a Woman. This series of abstract paintings is a visceral exploration of the identities we can carry, and for artist Clare she was pulled in lean into the identities of mother, wife, artist, and woman as well as the vibrant soul that ties every single one of them together.
The Spark
Clare’s practice is deeply introspective, born from a desire to interpret internal feelings and moods into something tangible. The collection was sparked by her curiosity about how we present different versions of ourselves to the world while remaining the same human being at our core.
Music has been the emotional anchor for this journey. Clare immersed herself in the work of Cleo Sol, creating a multi-sensory dialogue where every painting is paired with a specific song, allowing the viewer to hear the mood as much as they see it.
• Everything’s Going to Be Fine (Mother) - inspired by Airplane
• Sunshine You Make Me Feel Alive (Wife) - inspired by Sunshine
• Save Me From Myself (Woman) - inspired by Self
• I Walk Towards the Light (Artist) - inspired by Try and You Try
Process & Emotion
Each facet carries its own lived moments and visceral emotional weight.
Mother - Everything’s Going to Be Fine
Clare captures the quiet power of protection. Inspired by the gentle lulling of Airplane, this piece is a visual lullaby, an atmospheric, tender embrace that conveys whispered words of love and the safety of a soft kiss on the brow. It holds the emotional truth of parenting: chaotic, overwhelming, and yet anchored by an unshakeable desire to make your children feel safe.
Wife - Sunshine You Make Me Feel Alive
This piece strips back the layers to the deep, pre‑parenthood connection of partnership. It celebrates a visceral bond rooted in friendship and slow‑burning love. The palette is vibrant, alive, and intimate, capturing the heat of a connection that remains an emotional anchor, a reminder of the spark that existed long before life became shared responsibility.
Woman - Save Me From Myself
Surprising in its boldness, this facet represents Clare’s unapologetic evolution through her 40s. Inspired by the raw layers of Self, it’s a cultural reset in paint form, the moment you decide to be the main character. Vibrant, evolving, and refusing to shrink, this piece embodies a woman stepping fully into her own power.
Artist - I Walk Towards the Light
Legitimate art is a battle, and this piece proves it. Embodying the “awful bit in the middle” where doubt creeps in, it reflects the grit and resilience required to push through the creative struggle. It’s a testament to the fact that being an artist is hard, honest, and ultimately rewarding work, a portrait of persistence in motion.
Though deeply personal, Clare sees the works as universal. “They seem to have a pull and push between introvert and extrovert, mother and artist being introvert, wife and woman being extrovert. It’s this daily battle we all have of deciding which version of ourselves to show the world.” Her paintings invite audiences to reflect inward, to consider their own facets and the identities they carry.
At Seventh Circle, we were hit by the vibrancy of her work instantly when we first laid eyes on it. Conveying true, raw feeling through abstraction is one of the hardest things to do well, but Clare achieves it with honesty, depth, and warmth.
Looking Ahead
Clare sees this collection as a milestone: “To have gallery representation has been a big goal of mine, so to finish off the year with this is huge. I’m excited to produce more work, and I’d love to have another solo exhibition in 2026.” We’re equally excited and this is just the beginning!
Clare’s debut collection is on display now. Come and see which facet speaks to you.
