Martha Zmpounou: Glowing Layers – Jackson’s Artwork Weblog

Martha Zmpounou received the Planographic Runner Up Award in Jackson’s Artwork Prize 2026 along with her work Man in Yellow Swimsuit. On this interview, she discusses what she’s been as much as since successful a Visitor Choose’s Selection Award in 2025, the characters that develop into acquainted favourites in her work, and growing her observe with new surfaces.

Above picture: Martha in her studio

Josephine: It’s been a little bit over a yr since we final spoke, after Dressing Up received Anne Rothenstein’s Selection Award in Jackson’s Artwork Prize 2025. What have you ever been as much as since then?

Martha: It’s been a busy yr, balancing motherhood, instructing, and my artwork observe. I had my second solo present with Rhodes Modern Artwork Gallery in London, in addition to participating in a number of group reveals and the London Authentic Print Honest. I’ve actually loved the group reveals particularly, as they’ve given me the prospect to satisfy and join with some great fellow artists.

In the intervening time, I’m finalising work for Imprint Artwork Honest and growing a brand new physique of labor for an upcoming solo present, which I’m very enthusiastic about.

Josephine: What had been you serious about or exploring on the time you made Man in Yellow Swimsuit? What impressed it, and the way did it come to be?

Martha: Man in Yellow Swimsuit is a component of a bigger physique of labor consisting primarily of hand-printed, multi-layered watercolour monoprints. I needed to painting a person caught in a quiet second of pause and solitude. I used to be concerned with enjoying with various levels of abstraction and daring color, whereas nonetheless sustaining the recognisable qualities of a portrait.

Usually, the individuals I draw aren’t portraits of actual people. As a substitute, I invent fictional characters, drawing from my creativeness in addition to collaged fragments I discover in magazines, historic references, and previous scrapbooks. I like bringing these completely different items collectively and seeing how they’ll counsel a brand new id – somebody who feels by some means acquainted, but in addition elusive. I’m much less concerned with capturing a precise likeness and extra concerned with imagining who somebody is perhaps, or what they may carry with them. For me, it’s much less concerning the face itself and extra concerning the environment, feeling, or story that appears to take a seat behind it.

Josephine: What made you submit this piece to Jackson’s Artwork Prize?

Martha: It was actually a private desire. For some purpose, he’s develop into one in every of my favorite characters, and I’ve used him in a number of items. Generally making a piece could be fairly a battle, whereas different instances it appears to come back collectively virtually by itself. This one was notably pleasing to make, so I had a powerful feeling about it.

I’m very pleased that the piece was chosen and acquired an award. Your favorite items aren’t at all times those that resonate most with judges, so it was a stunning shock to see this one chosen.

Josephine: There’s a glow to your work on account of your mixture of watercolours, paper, and the monoprinting course of. How do these supplies and processes achieve reaching your themes round reminiscence, connection and underlying psychologies?

Martha: I believe the ‘glow’ comes from the way in which during which I construct up the paint in layers. I work on a shiny floor resembling plastic, which permits the watercolour to maneuver and slide fairly freely. By various the quantity of paint and water, I can create each opaque and clear marks. I like having the ability to mix extra managed, polished marks with looser, virtually ‘sloppy’ ones.

For me, although, the themes of reminiscence and connection come extra by the composition and the environments I create across the figures. Whether or not they’re sleeping, dreaming, or having a dialog, they usually appear to inhabit areas someplace between actuality, reminiscence, and creativeness. These invented areas permit me to discover emotions resembling nostalgia, belief, calm, belonging, and connection, with out essentially having to outline precisely what is going on.

Josephine: How did it really feel to progress by the competitors and finally win the Jackson’s Planographic Runner Up Award, particularly after your success final yr?

Martha: It felt nice! I really feel very fortunate and honoured to have acquired a prize two years in a row. On the similar time, I’m very conscious that there’s a component of likelihood concerned, as there have been so many sturdy submissions that would have been chosen as an alternative.

For me, the award looks like a stunning piece of optimistic suggestions and encouragement. It offers me confidence and retains me motivated to proceed growing my work.

Josephine: What’s arising subsequent for you?

Martha: I’ve a number of tasks arising that I’m enthusiastic about, alongside some new gallery collaborations, a number of group exhibitions, and an upcoming solo present. I’ve additionally began experimenting with and dealing on discovered materials.

I actually get pleasure from experimenting with completely different surfaces. Engaged on cloth – often light-weight cotton, discovered materials, and muslin – quite than conventional canvas has been a brand new problem for me, and that’s what retains it fascinating.

Comply with Martha on Instagram

Additional Studying

Meet Angela Lizon, Winner of Jackson’s Artwork Prize 2026

Jackson’s Artwork Prize 2026 First Prize Winner Introduced

How We Collaborate With Artists

Knowledgeable Recommendation on Making Your Manner as an Artist

Store Printmaking on jacksonsart.com