17. Caroline Coon - The Evangelist Eagle - A Contemporary Illumination from The Book of Kells (800)AC

2026
Watercolour on paper
17.78 x 12.7 cm
Signed on Verso

Caroline Coon is a British artist, writer and activist whose work has long been shaped by feminism, sexual politics and social activism. Her paintings challenge binary ideas of gender and confront oppressive patriarchal structures, reflecting a lifelong commitment to sexual liberation and political dissent.

Working across portraiture, landscape, and figurative painting, Coon’s subjects range from sex workers, beachgoers, and intersex individuals to footballers, still lifes, and urban scenes. Despite their diversity, these works are united by an unwavering resistance to social conformity and a desire to question accepted norms.

Coon’s paintings are often vivid, expressive and psychologically charged, combining direct observation with political consciousness. Her practice examines identity, freedom, and power, foregrounding individuals and communities that are frequently marginalised or misunderstood. Throughout her career she has used painting as both a personal and political tool, challenging viewers to reconsider assumptions around gender, sexuality and representation.