Wencke Uhl
Press Release
(New Orleans, LA) FERRARA SHOWMAN GALLERY is excited to announce the Summer 2026 exhibition in its seasonal, online exclusive series. I Can Buy Myself Flowers marks the first gallery solo exhibition of Bonn, Germany-based painter Wencke Uhl. First appearing in the 27th Annual NO DEAD ARTISTS International Exhibition of Contemporary Art in 2023, the gallery has continued to work with and place Uhl's works with collectors ranging from actresses in New York to interior designers in Azerbaijan. For her FSG debut, Uhl unveils her most recent series of portraits - floral, fashion-forward, and feminist.
The exhibition will be on view from 1 July through 30 September - online only, with rotating, selected paintings physically installed in the gallery throughout the run of the show.
The artist says of her newest works . . .
My series, I Can Buy Myself Flowers, explores themes of emancipation, self-empowerment, and inherent self-worth.
The title is a conscious reference to Miley Cyrus’s anthem, which dismantles historical romantic narratives in favor of an independent identity. Traditionally, flowers have been gifted to women (as well as men and members of the LGBTQ+ community) as gestures that implicitly dictate their value. By shifting the act of buying flowers to an intentional choice of one's own will, a person’s worth becomes self-defined rather than relationship-dependent.
In this way, the series repositions the concept of "social identity." While our identities are undeniably shaped by our significant others, we should untangle our feelings of self-worth from romantic partnerships and antiquated social codes.
To emphasize the universality of this message, I deliberately rendered the figures in black and white – underscoring that this experience belongs to everyone. Furthermore, I really wanted the patterns of the women's dresses to match their bouquets, illustrating that beauty is not a passive ornament, but an integral part of identity.
Press Release cont'd
Wencke Uhl is a contemporary figurative artist based in Germany whose work celebrates the female form by blending bold colors and lush patterns with a fashion-forward eye and visual storytelling.
While her early ambitions lay in fashion design, Uhl now “dresses” her subjects in complex shapes and patterns to explore themes of identity and selfhood. Her work reflects the vibrant, transitional nature of modern pop culture, navigating the“now” through themes of emancipation, diversity and liberty. By removing the male gaze, Uhl celebrates femininity through powerful figures who define their own agendas, defying both subordination and limitation.
Utilizing a mix of acrylics, oil, and decoupage, Uhl creates a vivid dynamic that sits firmly at the intersection of pop art and contemporary pluralism.
Uhl’s work has been exhibited internationally throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Central Asia. Her art has been featured in Architectural Digest, and she was named one of the “Top 25 Artists to Collect” by Artsper in 2025.