Paulette Tavormina, Beetles + Huxley

Ripe fruits and wilting blooms, the first ever UK exhibition of Paulette Tavormina's fascinating photography is succulent and alluring. The self-taught American photographer has made her name by mimicking the style of Golden Age still-life painting, when artists like  Francesco de Zurbarán and Adriaen Coorte meticulously captured everyday items like a table of sumptuous food or wilting flowers to demonstrate their acute skill. Embedded in the tapestry of these paintings is mortality and the demise of the flesh. 
We love Tavormina's tireless interpretation of these paintings which can require an entire week of carefully arranging the banal alongside emotionally resonant objects. This patient practice is rooted in her previous job as a prop and food stylist. Make sure you look out for the rich compositions of the Natura Mortura and Bodegón series.
A daring reclamation of the still-life genre of art for modern photography, we're still shocked that this is only Tavormina's first show in the UK. However, this Beetles + Huxley gallery exhibition is a fantastic opportunity to discover the fine art photographer before her name gets plastered everywhere.