Head up 34 floors in one of the most iconic buildings in London, and you'll arrive at Searcys. This much-loved restaurant boasts 360 degree views of the sprawling city, so you need stunning artworks to match the landscape. When the lift doors open you'll be met with the stunning art of Lisa Lloyd, a multimedia artist who creates stunning artworks using paper.
Lisa's art is now on display in the Helix restaurant and Iris bar at the very top of the Gherkin. She is also the very first artist to take part in the restaurant's 'The Art of Perfection' series.
This exhibition consists of a number of Lisa's artworks that fit seamlessly into the restaurant's elegant interior. On her work being shown in the iconic building, Lisa says “I’m incredibly excited to be exhibiting my work in such an iconic building in the heart of London. I lived and worked in London for 14 years, so it’s a really big deal for me and I’m a big fan of Norman Foster’s work.”
Lisa's stunning paper sculpture
The centrepiece of the exhibition takes the form of a golden bird in flight, and the rest of the exhibition includes a wide variety of Lisa’s works, from paper sculptures to 6 limited edition prints. “I’ve prepared 3 large wall art pieces which are over a meter in size”, explains Lisa, “they are painted back boards covered with my paperwork. I’m also creating a large abstract sculpture of a bird for the lobby which is over a meter tall.”
Lisa’s energetic artworks, and this collection in particular, take inspiration from the natural environment: “my current style is inspired by the movement of wings and birds and is circular in composition.” Lisa’s artwork fits seamlessly into the space, seamlessly molding with the curved walls and architecture. “ It felt like an amazing coincidence that my current style fits so well with the space, I can’t wait to see it there.”
Cocktails named after Rise No.1 and Rise No.2, two of Lisa's new limited edition print series
Lisa spoke more of her affinity for the restaurant space: “My current style is inspired by the movement and wings of birds and is circular in composition. When I saw the Searcys space in the gherkin my heart skipped a beat. The interior walls and architecture mirrors the design of the external architecture. Everywhere I looked there were curves! I love the incredible details and geometry of nature, so the radial geometry of the Gherkin really inspires me.”
Searcy’s restaurant has an unmatched of London, providing an intimate and exclusive look at the city below. Lisa’s artwork enhances the luxury atmosphere of the space, and she is particularly passionate about the relationship between food and art. Lisa spoke of this intersection between art and gastronomy: “This year I exhibited at Homo Faber at the biennale in Venice, it was a celebration and showcase of master craftspeople and artisans. While I was there, I met incredible artists: everything from violin and jewellery makers to wood carvers and chefs. When I talked to a chef about his work I was struck by how much we had in common. We talked about our tools, the importance of working with good materials and how it takes a lot of time and patience to create good quality work.” What is better than dinner and some amazing art?
Lisa's artworks will be a permanent feature at Searcy's Restaurant until 30th November. To discover Lisa's artwork, including a few prints featured in this exhibition, click here.
