Have you ever thought about all the versions of yourself that never came to exist?  Artist Atalanta Xanthe ponders this question in her debut solo show ‘Uteroverse’ which just opened 
ALICE BLACK London's gallery in Fitzrovia.


Having studied art in Oxford and New York, Xanthe currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, but returns to her birthplace for this show. ‘Uteroverse’ will feature five paintings with accompanying drawings of new works. In her large-scale paintings, which echo the patriarchal form of traditional History Paintings, Xanthe explores the randomness and drama of the reproductive process. Unlike the male heroism that is normally celebrated in History Paintings, the artist flips the script to spotlight the journey of existence that begins with womankind.


Xanthe’s paintings narrate the sperm's allegorical journey through the Uterus. Gangly, featureless figures navigate surreal landscapes of rocks, trees, and meadows- a representation of the ‘Uteroverse’.  Instead of a Darwinian ‘Survival of the Fittest’-trope, the landscape, as part of a uniquely female experience, plays a much more pivotal role in these paintings.


Bright and saturated greens and reds dominate the canvas and instantly catch the viewer’s eye.  But, despite their subtlety, the drawings are even more alluring.  We see chaos and we see companionship in this huddle of figures, drawn in a confident, yet fine line.  Some have fallen, while others keep striding on towards the egg.  Something remarkable about these drawings is reminiscent of the childlike yet slightly frightening nature of old fairy tales.

And after seeing Atalanta Xanthe’s work the reproductive process does seem a lot more like a spectacular tale rather than a biological process- an exciting journey that could have ended in many different ways and with many different Yous. - Carolin Hartter

‘Uteroverse’ will be on display at ALICE BLACK at 46 Mortimer St, London, W1W 7RL from the until the 16th of October.