Celia Paul

Art Appreciation

Celia Paul’s work occupies a unique space between autobiography, presence, and the evolving definition of the female gaze. As both Karl Ove Knausgaard and Rachel Cusk explore in their respective writings, Paul’s paintings are deeply introspective, capturing those closest to her—her mother, siblings, and herself—often within the confines of her London flat. This space, serving as both home and studio, dissolves the distinction between artist and subject, reinforcing the quiet intensity of her work. 

Cusk highlights the way Paul’s paintings embody stillness, drawing the viewer into the internal world of her subjects. Meanwhile, Knausgaard describes the paradox of her art—weightless yet heavy, timeless yet deeply personal. Her subdued color palettes, sparse compositions, and emotionally charged depictions create an atmosphere of presence that lingers beyond the canvas, offering a meditation on identity, memory, and solitude.

Paul’s artistic evolution was shaped in part by her complex relationship with Lucian Freud. In her memoir Self-Portrait, she reflects on the vulnerability of being his model, culminating in Naked Girl With Egg, where she is depicted in a passive, objectified pose. Yet, Paul later reclaimed this moment in Ghost of a Girl with an Egg, a reinterpretation that shifts the power dynamic—transforming herself from subject to artist, from observed to observer. 

Knausgaard unpacks this reversal as Paul’s assertion of agency, challenging the traditional male gaze. Cusk, in contrast, situates Paul’s work within a broader discussion of the female gaze, contrasting her introspective, restrained approach with Cecily Brown’s bold, expressive energy. While Brown’s work is dynamic and full of movement, Paul’s remains quiet, reflective, and deeply personal. Both perspectives reveal Paul’s commitment to redefining the portrayal of women—not as passive subjects but as individuals engaged in self-examination and control over their own narratives.

Beyond her association with Freud, Paul’s artistic journey is marked by personal sacrifices in service of her craft. She has been unwavering in her commitment to solitude, even choosing to live apart from her husband and entrusting her son’s upbringing to her mother so she could fully dedicate herself to painting. 

Her memoir captures this tension between personal relationships and artistic devotion, illuminating the costs and rewards of a life immersed in art. Ultimately, Paul’s work and life reflect an ongoing negotiation between selfhood, intimacy, and the act of seeing—both as an artist and as a woman defining her own presence in a world historically shaped by male-dominated narratives.

Painter and Model, 2012

Reclining Painter, 2023

My Sisters in Mourning, 2015–16

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/07/magazine/women-art-celia-paul-cecily-brown.html

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/02/03/the-world-changing-gaze-of-celia-paul

https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/celia-paul-self-portrait-review/

https://www.trebuchet-magazine.com/new-celia-paul-works-at-victoria-miro-gallery/

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/oct/27/celia-paul-self-portrait-memoir-interview-lucian-freud

https://newrepublic.com/article/159729/celia-paul-self-portrait-book-review