Lilliane Tomasko uses portraiture as a lens to shed light on the ever-changing human condition. This exhibition includes new works created in direct response to four portraits from, or on loan to, Sheffield’s collection. 

In 1899 Sigmund Freud published The Interpretation of Dreams, a key point in the inception of modern-day psychology. A year later Pierre Bonnard created his nude with black stockings displayed here. Tomasko’s work takes Bonnard’s dream inspired composition a step further and transforms his recognisable imagery into a floating array of coloured shapes. 

Kees van Dongen’s arresting portrait of the famous model Kiki is dominated by her large dark alluring eyes. Tomasko draws attention to the stylised ideal of a person that an artist can create and questions how Kiki’s private internal psychological life is, or is not, revealed.

Eduardo Paolozzi’s sculpture alludes to the Greek myth, Icarus, whose wings were scorched as he flew too close to the sun. Tomasko’s responding work shows burnt arms that reflect the perils of unrestrained pride and overconfidence. 

Frank Auerbach’s portrait shows Julia Mill’s head tilted sideways, slightly turned up and back, a pose identified by psychologist Nancy Henley as typically submissive. Tomasko explores this power dynamic between the artist and sitter.