Oil painting of Florence Welch | Say My Name (Tell Me Where To Put My Love) | Peggy Seymour

Say My Name
(Tell me Where To Put My Love)
24" x 24"
Oil on canvas, reclaimed brass frame, 2024.

Say My Name (Tell Me Where To Put My Love) explores the nature of our love for popular culture. Traditionally a mark of status, oil portraits were reserved for the rich, for royalty, for deities. Here, Florence Welch of the indie rock band Florence & the Machine is depicted in traditional oils surrounded by a glorious sunburst frame almost reminiscent of a religious icon. The phrase "Tell me where to put my love" from the Florence & the Machine song My Love is emblazoned across the top of the portrait in gilt lettering as a question or perhaps an instruction. The title of the piece, Say My Name, a phrase from the Florence & the Machine song Spectrum, echoes this concept.

This artwork was primarily inspired by the importance of music and musicians in my own life, a theme I have often explored through my work. Music is an essential part of my creative process and I often listen to it whilst painting. There once was a time when I could only paint whilst listening specifically to the music of Florence & the Machine and yet I realised that in decades of painting musicians and actors I had never painted Florence Welch, the one who had helped me the most with my art. To rectify the situation I have presented her in the most elaborate way I have ever presented a portrait. In the hope that she will forgive me.

I would like to acknowledge the huge influence the Florence & the Machine studio album Dance Fever had over this piece. Without it, its music, lyrics, imagery and all the creativity behind it, this work would not exist.

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