"I tried to capture the idea that sometimes the happiest looking people can be having a tough time.
Flowers felt like the perfect visual representation of that."
The Artist: MrCallaby
Matthew Callaby, known as MrCallaby, is a British artist, currently based in Bristol. He uses acrylic on canvas to create cute, chubby characters in a strange, vivid world.
His work often features anthropomorphic characters painted in his unique, illustrative style. Despite see-sawing between adorable and disturbing, Callaby’s main goal is to create a sense of fun within his work.
Why Sad Vases?
In 2024, MrCallaby held his first solo exhibition in Soho, London, titled Sad Flower Season.
The exhibition explored the idea that appearances can be deceptive. Behind bright colours and smiling faces, things are not always as happy as they seem.
As Callaby explains:
Alongside the paintings, a last minute idea emerged
A ceramic vase with a sad face.
The concept was simple. When the flowers die, the vase looks sad.
What began as a small addition to the exhibition quickly became its surprise success. The vases sold out immediately and soon became one of the artist's most sought-after creations.
Over the following years, each Sad Vase was individually hand-painted by the artist, but demand quickly outgrew what could realistically be made by hand.
Sad Vases: 1st Edition
Created to bring the work to a wider audience while staying true to the original concept.
Today, Sad Vase continues to do what it was always intended to do: bring a little humour to the inevitable reality that flowers don't last forever.
