In Conversation: Laxmi Hussain on Art, Identity, and the Beauty of Change

Ahead of the release of her limited edition print Blue Summer, coming October 12 at 5 PM CET on Contemporary Stuff, we spoke with Laxmi Hussain about the inspiration behind her work. From the shifting forms of the human body to the personal experiences that inform her art, Laxmi opens up about her process, the meaning behind her signature blue tones, and the ways her work captures both intimacy and universality.

Your work often explores the human body in fluid, abstract forms. What draws you to this subject, and what do you hope viewers feel when they encounter your pieces?

The body has always been fascinating to me, however it wasn't until I started to have children that I really started to document it. Women’s bodies are so heavily scrutinized in society and becoming a mother creates an environment where a lot of women question their identity, their minds change, their bodies change and art was one of the only ways I could explore and find myself again after this life-altering experience. In my art I want to express diversity, change, connection, the body is never a final state, it moves, alters and flows - yet we do not seem to accept this very easily, and like a lot of women I found this really hard to come to terms with. Drawing the body more and more abstractly helped me to realise the person within, understand who I am, and helped me to understand the seasons of life my body goes through, love, mothering, grief, ageing and much more. I hope that my art allows other people to see this in themselves too, that the body is incredible and able to do such magnificent things and that our appearance is such a small part of this entire journey.

How does your cultural background and personal experience influence the way you approach your art?

Until recently I thought that my personal influence was the only element of me that came through in my art, I wear my heart on my sleeve and so I share a lot of who I am and why I do the things I do, it's deeply emotional. However as I’ve grown older and been exposed to much more of my heritage and considered the upbringing I had in London, I understand that all of these things influence my work. London is where I was born and grew up, this influences the way I think and my approach to style, my heritage influences the thoughts I have about love, connection and vulnerability and my personal influences the conversation I have with my own body and wanting to share this experience with others.

Many of your works play with blue tones and organic lines. Can you tell us about the significance of these recurring elements?

Lines fascinate me, at my core I am always going to draw first. There is something about holding a piece of charcoal or pastel or pencil in my hand and making waves that is comforting to me. The lines don’t have to have meaning in this action, but I feel like something in my subconscious understands what needs to happen without me overthinking it and that’s something I can’t ever truly explain as a feeling. Blue is for my mother, who died in 2018, just before I became the artist I am today and so it is my way of honouring her and keeping her with me in my work - she also features a lot in my works because she is me, and I am of her - it's all connected.

What was your process in creating the limited edition print for Contemporary Stuff?

I wanted this to be really quite free and spontaneous, I’m not someone who overthinks things, I like my work to be like a conversation, free and easy, something that makes you comfortable and gives you pleasure. In creating this piece I had been exploring new lines, my lines change with every season and every year and this summer my lines have felt very confident and exploring the possibilities of what is to come. Summer is one of my favourite seasons and I just spent lots of time drawing and drawing, enjoying the thing I do most and this piece is my representation of a really good summer.

Collaboration often brings new perspectives. How was it working together on this project?

I love collaborations, it's such a good way to expand how you work, learn and grow alongside other people. This was exactly that and Contemporary Stuff welcomed the ideas I had as well as helping to direct what they felt would be most successful in this collaboration with ease. The prints are beautifully made with care and dedication, from the colours to the paper, I’m really proud of what we have made.

What role do you think limited edition prints play in making art more accessible?

I feel prints are a good way for artists to expand their network, not all artwork can be affordable, but the nature of making something more affordable for me also means I can be a bit more playful.

Your art often feels intimate yet universal. How do you balance personal expression with themes that speak broadly to audiences?

I’m not always sure to be honest, haha, mostly I try to be true to me. Rather than making work which I feel will ‘attract’ my audience, I try to work in a way that is enjoyable for me, learning what it means to be an individual in the world that I live in and sharing that. I always try to be honest and kind in the way I reflect what I am thinking in my work and I love to speak and connect with other people, to learn about their journeys, their lives and what makes them happy. I think what I’m saying here is that rather than trying to figure out what is approachable to others I try to share my own experiences in an honest way, and hopefully others will resonate and enjoy the way I tell stories through my work.

Outside of visual art, what inspires you—books, music, movement, daily rituals?

I love plants and being outdoors, anyone who has been to my studio or home knows I spend a lot of time taking care of my many plants. I also love reading and I’ve always really enjoyed going to the gym - working on strength. My daily rituals as a mother are quite varied, but I like to take moments within the chaos for slow, intentional moments. Yesterday I sat in my garden with my youngest for a few minutes just enjoying the fresh air and the joy of being outside. They are not always monumental moments, but I try to make them valuable and meaningful to me and the people I love.

What do you hope people take with them when they live with your work in their own spaces?

I absolutely love seeing the colour blue in daylight, the blue that I work in just has such a magical quality to it and I never tire of this - so I hope that many of my collectors get to enjoy this. I also hope that it gives them a moment to understand the gentle moments of being human, touch, connection, the softness of our bodies. These are the things I like to remind myself of and I hope that my work brings this calm and reflection into the spaces they are housed in.

Looking ahead, are there new directions or projects you’re excited to explore?

I have lots of paintings I’ve been dreaming about, large ones. The summer has been really busy and so I’m looking forward to the slowness that winter usually brings and painting through it. I’ve also been slowly collecting second-hand lamp bases over the past year which I plan to upcycle in my style and rewire - I can’t wait to share this all.