A new exhibition at London's Zebra One gallery focuses on the works of artists who have experienced mental health issues. This one, titled "Mind the foxes," is by former Ultravox and Duran Duran guitarist Gerry Laffy, who does not suffer from mental illness himself, but has worked with affected patients as an art teacher. <br /><br />"All of us have suffered from anxiety or depression at times. I have found that creative focus takes me out of the real world and I can lose myself for hour upon hour, especially when I do mixed media work," he said in an email interview.
Gerry Laffy - "The foxes" (12017) —
A new exhibition at London's Zebra One gallery focuses on the works of artists who have experienced mental health issues. This one, titled "Mind the foxes," is by former Ultravox and Duran Duran guitarist Gerry Laffy, who does not suffer from mental illness himself, but has worked with affected patients as an art teacher.

"All of us have suffered from anxiety or depression at times. I have found that creative focus takes me out of the real world and I can lose myself for hour upon hour, especially when I do mixed media work," he said in an email interview.
Zebra One Gallery
"I have done a lot of dream-like images of late. My new collection is called 'Preparing for War.' I am sure a major war is just around the corner. My art portrays these thoughts."
Gerry Laffy - "Bit late" (2017) —
"I have done a lot of dream-like images of late. My new collection is called 'Preparing for War.' I am sure a major war is just around the corner. My art portrays these thoughts."
Zebra One Gallery
"I also did highly decorated tyrants, such as Stalin. He, for example, is resplendent in his diamond-dusted finery. The regimented lines of sequins are torn and decimated representing (Stalin's) purges of his general staff, his paranoia and fear of any opposition led him to facing Hitler on the doorstep of the Kremlin."
Gerry Laffy - "Stalin" (2017) —
"I also did highly decorated tyrants, such as Stalin. He, for example, is resplendent in his diamond-dusted finery. The regimented lines of sequins are torn and decimated representing (Stalin's) purges of his general staff, his paranoia and fear of any opposition led him to facing Hitler on the doorstep of the Kremlin."
Zebra One Gallery
Artist Kim Noble has dissociative identity disorder. She has 21 different personalities, many of them are artists, each with their own style. This piece, 'My hands are Tied,' is by Ria," she said in an email interview. "Ria is a young personality who often paints graphic scenes of abuse. Her palette is very bright for the gloomy theme of abuse she paints."
Kim Noble - "My hands are tied" (2017) —
Artist Kim Noble has dissociative identity disorder. She has 21 different personalities, many of them are artists, each with their own style. This piece, 'My hands are Tied,' is by Ria," she said in an email interview. "Ria is a young personality who often paints graphic scenes of abuse. Her palette is very bright for the gloomy theme of abuse she paints."
Zebra One Gallery
"This is 'Training of the Purple Spirit' by Anon. Anon is an alter who likes to paint in the middle of the night," Noble said. "For me, the works have a spiritual feel about them, with a lot of movement. The paint is fresh and thick with limited amount of use with a pallet knife."
Kim Noble - Training of the purple spirit (2017) —
"This is 'Training of the Purple Spirit' by Anon. Anon is an alter who likes to paint in the middle of the night," Noble said. "For me, the works have a spiritual feel about them, with a lot of movement. The paint is fresh and thick with limited amount of use with a pallet knife."
Zebra One Gallery
"I chose to present three iconic works by Andy Warhol in this exhibition," artist Nigel Stefani wrote in an email. "The reason being I have never worked with another artists pieces before, hence the challenge and responsibility of this, was something that appealed to me."
Nigel Stefani - "Andy & Marilyn" (2017) —
"I chose to present three iconic works by Andy Warhol in this exhibition," artist Nigel Stefani wrote in an email. "The reason being I have never worked with another artists pieces before, hence the challenge and responsibility of this, was something that appealed to me."
Zebra One Gallery
"I liked the idea of reinterpreting something so well known. These subjects are so saturated within the public's zeitgeist that it would be fascinating to attempt using one's own style and still, perhaps, produce something of worth."
Nigel Stefani - "After Warhol, The Icon Series" (2017) —
"I liked the idea of reinterpreting something so well known. These subjects are so saturated within the public's zeitgeist that it would be fascinating to attempt using one's own style and still, perhaps, produce something of worth."
Zebra One Gallery
"(Jean-Michel Basquiat) painted so many self portraits. This is my interpretation of one of his self-portraits imposed upon his face, as if he has become one of his paintings," Darren MacPherson wrote in an email.
Darren MacPherson - "After Basquiat" (2017) —
"(Jean-Michel Basquiat) painted so many self portraits. This is my interpretation of one of his self-portraits imposed upon his face, as if he has become one of his paintings," Darren MacPherson wrote in an email.
Zebra One Gallery
"I do a lot of sketching that I then paint over, as it is a therapeutic process. I can never tell how they will turn out, but they are usually done in twos or threes. This is one of two."
Darren MacPherson - "It's not even" (2017) —
"I do a lot of sketching that I then paint over, as it is a therapeutic process. I can never tell how they will turn out, but they are usually done in twos or threes. This is one of two."
Zebra One Gallery
Lee du Ploy is both a painter and a psychologist.<br /><br />"My current interest or subject of specialty is prosopagnosia, a debilitating condition where facial awareness becomes an issue and people no longer recognize their loved ones and believe in some cases that they are a threat and try to kill them," he said. My recent paintings are of subjects with this condition, which has proved to be extremely helpful in calming the mind."
Lee du Ploy - "No words" (2017) —
Lee du Ploy is both a painter and a psychologist.

"My current interest or subject of specialty is prosopagnosia, a debilitating condition where facial awareness becomes an issue and people no longer recognize their loved ones and believe in some cases that they are a threat and try to kill them," he said. My recent paintings are of subjects with this condition, which has proved to be extremely helpful in calming the mind."
Zebra One Gallery
"My mental health has influenced my art, making an internal dialogue external," sculptor and painter George J. Harding said in an email. "My life experiences have gone into my work, and (art) has been a form of therapy for me over the years."
George J. Harding "A kiss in space" (2017) —
"My mental health has influenced my art, making an internal dialogue external," sculptor and painter George J. Harding said in an email. "My life experiences have gone into my work, and (art) has been a form of therapy for me over the years."
Zebra One Gallery
"(These works) are experimental pieces, exploring surface and depth and mixing different styles and ways of making together."
George J. Harding - "Puzzled 2" (2017) —
"(These works) are experimental pieces, exploring surface and depth and mixing different styles and ways of making together."
Zebra One Gallery
The Proudfoot brothers are wary of outsiders and use art to communicate with the outside world. <br /><br />"We have both had mental health issues, but our art has probably been more influenced by our personal problems," they said in an email. "Sometimes we can get really down and don't paint, but we just do what we do regardless," they said in an email.
Charlie and Eddie Proudfoot - "Was it" (2017) —
The Proudfoot brothers are wary of outsiders and use art to communicate with the outside world.

"We have both had mental health issues, but our art has probably been more influenced by our personal problems," they said in an email. "Sometimes we can get really down and don't paint, but we just do what we do regardless," they said in an email.
Zebra One Gallery
"We just paint and let the gallery decide what they want. We don't know what people like, we have never shown our work to anyone and we are very nervous," they added.
Charlie and Eddie Proudfoot - "It's not me" (2017) —
"We just paint and let the gallery decide what they want. We don't know what people like, we have never shown our work to anyone and we are very nervous," they added.
Zebra One Gallery
"My painting is titled 'se7en,' related to the film of the same name starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. The movie introduces a scene where Morgan Freeman reads Dante's "Inferno," which has been following me throughout my life. It's one of the reasons I chose D.A.N.T.E. as my artist name," artist Stifado Dante said in an email. " The painting reveals seven heads, representing the seven deadly sins, or seven people or inner demons I did not have a good history with. The full figure represents the hero battling these inner demons."
Stifado Dante "I cannot sit still" (2017) —
"My painting is titled 'se7en,' related to the film of the same name starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. The movie introduces a scene where Morgan Freeman reads Dante's "Inferno," which has been following me throughout my life. It's one of the reasons I chose D.A.N.T.E. as my artist name," artist Stifado Dante said in an email. " The painting reveals seven heads, representing the seven deadly sins, or seven people or inner demons I did not have a good history with. The full figure represents the hero battling these inner demons."
Zebra One Gallery
The exhibition also features works by Warhol, Francis Bacon and Salvador Dali, who are all believed to have had issues with their mental health.
Andy Warhol - "Mao" (1072) —
The exhibition also features works by Warhol, Francis Bacon and Salvador Dali, who are all believed to have had issues with their mental health.
Zebra One gallery
Zebra Gallery Mason Storm
Mason Storm —
Zebra One Gallery
One of the Francis Bacon pieces on show at the exhibition.
Francis Bacon - "Three studies for a self-portrait" (1980) —
One of the Francis Bacon pieces on show at the exhibition.
Zebra One Gallery
Part of the proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Mental Health Foundation, a British charity.
Francis Bacon - "Triptych" (1972) —
Part of the proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Mental Health Foundation, a British charity.
Zebra One Gallery
"As more individuals share their experience of using art as therapy and how it can help with recovery, there will be a greater understanding of the value of arts programs in providing opportunities for healing, self-rediscovery, the formation of a new identity, and acceptance in the wider community," said exhibition curator Gabrielle Du Plooy.
Salvador Dali - "Le Neurologiste" (1977) —
"As more individuals share their experience of using art as therapy and how it can help with recovery, there will be a greater understanding of the value of arts programs in providing opportunities for healing, self-rediscovery, the formation of a new identity, and acceptance in the wider community," said exhibition curator Gabrielle Du Plooy.
Zebra One Gallery