Celebrating saints and sinners

Prominent art enclave Cuba Street in Wellington is temporarily home to the latest series of works by a young Northland artist.

Whangarei's Jessie Rose Foote is displaying her latest collection until February 16 at the Matchbox Gallery in Cuba Street, where galleries are notoriously hard for artists to get into.

"It's good - I've been wanting to do this for ages - it's a step in the right direction," Foote said.

Her partner, Sarah Morris, admits it was no easy feat, given the fact most artists on display in Cuba Street are required to have a minimum of three international exhibitions under their belts.

"I spent two days on the phone - it's really hard to get in."

But the hard work paid off, with two galleries keen on showing Foote's work.

The pair finally settled on the Matchbox Gallery because it offered promotion such as radio advertising and posters.

"[My series] is called Saint and Sinner, and it's 12 oil paintings hardboard-framed, based on the theme quote, "Every Saint has a past, Every Sinner has a future"," Foote said.

"I just heard that quote and I came up with what I wanted to paint for a new series."

Whangarei-born Foote had her first exhibition at Reyburn House Gallery in 1998 when she was 18.

Her work has been described as a surrealistic vision of the human condition, with the only constant in her work being beautiful women.