Vegan Artist Flooded With Work After Gallery Bans Her Controversial Painting

An artist has been flooded with more work after an art gallery took own one of her pieces.

Joanne Oddie admits her painting titled 'Karma' is on the bloody side of art but is proud of the message it sends.

She was invited to send in a piece to the open art display at the Llanwrtyd & District Heritage and Arts Centre.

The Welshwoman decided to pick the one depicting a fox hunter being brutally dismembered by a werewolf while foxes watch on.

However, one visitor to the arts centre complained it was a bit too graphic and the gallery pulled it down.

The 56-year-old explained the piece had actually gained a lot of support when it was initially shown and was surprised it was banned because of one person's opinion.

"Not only did people understand my sentiment, but they have made comments on the detail - the lighting of the moonlit forest, the powerful stance of the werewolf and the laid back attitude of the foxes," she said.

"There was one negative comment in the heritage centre visitors' book which suggested that Karma was 'out of place' at the venue.

"I beg to differ, I think the centre is the perfect place to hang my painting because foxes are indeed part of our wonderful British heritage.

"My painting is pretty unambiguous in that respect - it's about having love, respect and compassion for all living creatures."

But it seems like the backlash has only done Joanne the world of good.

She's explained in a Facebook post that she's now booked up with commissions until April next year and her work will be seen by way more people.

Ms Oddie is doing five more exhibitions of that Karma series and she's also now selling merchandise based off the original painting.

"The controversy I have caused locally, is the icing on the cake, as in my wildest dreams, I didn't think my artwork would cause such a stir, after all 'art' is executed to evoke reaction, whether it be positive, or negative," she explained.

"My painting is pretty unambiguous, but then, the bottom line, is that me; the artist has love, and respect for all living creatures, a huge amount of them, are sentient, but many people prefer to keep that fact in denial, which allows them, to persist in treating animals with little respect, awareness, empathy, or compassion, or at least, to allow others to carry on doing so."

Topics: News

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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