
About
Antonia Jolley
Antonia Jolley is an award-winning body positive nude and portrait artist from the Midlands, UK. Jolley studied Fine Art at De Montfort University, Leicester before starting 'Antonia Jolley Art' in September 2020. Since then, her artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions, magazines, and galleries around the UK.


During the Covid-19 lockdowns, Jolley became increasingly aware of the limited representation of diverse body types on social media and redirected her practice towards nude portraiture. This shift led to Every Body – a collection of 123 nude watercolour paintings and testimonies challenging the notion of a singular ‘body standard’. These paintings formed Jolley's hugely successful, first in-person solo exhibition, Every Body.
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Her current work continues to explore body positivity but with an emphasis on moving beyond the body itself. “Our bodies are amazing – they are a vessel for life, laughter, dancing, and keeping us healthy. But we are not defined by them.” By omitting parts of the figure, the work invites the viewer to read identity through symbolic objects, allowing for a more abstract and open interpretation of the person.
Education
2017-2020
Fine Art
De Montfort University
Exhibitions
2025
14.12.24-31.01
26.09-30.09
Open: The People's Exhibition
Leicester, UK
Behind the Canvas
Brighton, UK
2024
14.12-31.01.25
Open: The People's Exhibition
Leicester, UK
2022
04.03
18.03-20.03
CENSOR ME, I DARE YOU
CENSOR ME, I DARE YOU
London, UK
Loughborough, UK
2021
09.04
10.05-23.05
18.06-03.07
01.07-09.07
22.10-24.10
08.11-22.11
Tits, Pits and Naughty Bits
Online Exhibition
Antonia Jolley Gradcurate
Online Exhibition
One Year On
Leicester, UK
Art & Design Degree Show 2021
Leicester, UK
Every Body Solo Exhibition
Burton upon Trent, UK
Creative Lockdown
Leicester, UK
2020
28.09-01.10
28.09-04.11
06.11-27.11
Art & Design Degree Show 2020
Online Exhibition
Inspired in Lockdown
Leicester, UK
LOVE ART
Leicester, UK
2019
28.02
The Feast: Sight
Leicester, UK
features
2022
11.04
16.05
Artist Antonia Jolley to launch new Self Love Club!
Britian Uncovered
BBC Radio Derby
2021
01.03
22.04
31.08
01.10
02.10
Meet Antonia Jolley, the artist reshaping body image across social media
Disgraceful Magazine
Interview with body positivity artist, Antonia Jolley!
Britian Uncovered
Interview with Antonia Jolley Art
Snazz Magazine
Exhibition by local nude portrait artist to challenge instagram body perfect culture
Arts Derbyshire
Disgracefest: Painting nudes, body positivity and running your own business
Online Festival
AWARDS
2022
29.03
Mental Health Business of the Year 2022
WINNER
Snazz Magazine Awards
2020
28.11
People's Choice Award
RUNNER UP
LOVE ART Exhibition



