Wee find: Florence Houston's jelly paintings
Aspic reimagined: nostalgia meets artistry.
I first glimpsed Florence Houston’s fascinating jelly paintings via Present & Correct’s excellent Instagram Stories. Houston’s “Powder Puff” exhibition at London’s Lyndsey Ingram gallery turns jelly and aspic – yes, that gloriously wobbly relic of ‘60s and ‘70s dinner parties – into a stunning series of portraits that feel both timeless and cheeky, with a subtle nod to the grotesque.
Houston’s work captures beautifully the muddy darkness and desaturated tones often found in the recipe books of the 1960s and ‘70s, where colours appeared shadowy rather than bright and inviting. Her jelly creations transcend mere kitsch; they become tender, playful homages to food, femininity, and nostalgia, skillfully balancing humour with an unexpected beauty. In Houston’s hands, jelly is transformed into finely detailed portraits, each one infused with the drama and gravitas of an Old Masters painting.
Apollo Magazine dives into Houston’s fascination with jelly as both subject and symbol. Houston talks about the tension between the beauty and absurdity of these decorative foods – how they’re made to be looked at, not just eaten, and how their slippery, colourful forms can be both enticing and a bit repulsive.
The interview reveals that Houston collaborates with a jelly-making expert, Caroline, to create her intricate moulds, and that the process is as precarious and mysterious as the final paintings suggest. The result is work that’s both nostalgic and tongue-in-cheek, capturing the strange allure of jelly in all its wobbly glory.
I can only hope that old Wee Birdy fave Bompas & Parr catered the opening, serving one of their iconic jelly creations. Their playful, nostalgic jellies would be the perfect match for Houston’s work – an edible echo of the exhibition’s quirky, shimmering spirit. Just wish I was in London to see this exhibition in person.
Florence Houston’s Powder Puff exhibition is currently on show at London’s Lindsey Ingram gallery until June 8, 2025.
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Going to go and see these today, thank you for sharing!
Oh I love everything about this! Thanks for introducing me to her.