Green Tile Background, Maroon Tunic, 2019

Provenance: Irena Hochman Fine Art Ltd.; acquired from the above by the current owner, 2019.

Jocelyn Hobbie’s practice focuses on portraiture, combining careful observation with a heightened use of colour and pattern to explore identity and representation. Her work often places figures against richly decorative backgrounds, where textile-like motifs interact with the subject, creating a dialogue between individuality and cultural context.

In Green Tile Background, Maroon Tunic (2019), the figure is presented in a poised, self-assured stance, set against a vibrant, patterned ground that recalls tiled or textile designs. The contrast between the detailed rendering of the subject and the rhythmic repetition of the background enhances the visual presence of the figure, while the bold colour palette emphasises both form and surface. Through this interplay, Hobbie constructs a portrait that is both intimate and composed, reflecting on identity as shaped by both personal and surrounding visual languages.