Beauty and Balance: The Art of Sian Atkins

5 min read

Sian Atkins is holding four illustrated art prints labeled “Solidarity,” “Peace,” “Respect,” and “Compassion” in a studio with paintings behind her. — Artist Sian Atkins' art doesn’t just brighten walls; it brightens the way forward.

Bold. Colorful. Expressive. Patterned.
These are all words that come to mind when looking at the work of Sian Atkins. And while all these are true, the real genius of this UK-based artist is in how her search for balance translates into her work.

With just one year of A-level arts in school—and a host of other passions like geography, international development, and Marxist political economy—Atkins describes herself as a self-teaching artist: “It’s a continuous learning process and I feel like I’m still just beginning really.”

She talks about the days leading up to her art career: “I discovered I was autistic in my late twenties, followed by coming out relatively late as gay around 30. This was a time of lots of self-discovery, exploration, and joy, but also mental health struggles… One consequence of this was spending more time with my senses.” The pandemic accelerated this return to intuition as she discovered Buddhism, meditation, and became a vegan. The stories and struggles of all these communities weighed on Atkins, though she admits “not really knowing how or feeling able to contribute much practical help towards the causes.”

Green mandala-style design featuring the phrase “neurodiversity is natural,” surrounded by nature icons like leaves, stars, lightning bolts, and clouds.

Enter artivism

— the practice of using your art to bring about social change.

“It’s not something I decided to do, or even chose. It feels more like it chose me. Almost like it can’t be any other way.” You feel the truth of this as you listen through her Instagram reels—hearing the transparency with which she walks you through her identities, explains how they show up on the canvas, and even describes the meaning behind her logo.

Geometric painting divided into color-coded wedges with words like “racism,” “ableism,” and “sexism.” Central text reads “all injustices are interconnected.”

A digitally rendered artwork featuring a kaleidoscope of colorful abstract shapes. The phrase “stay weird” appears in bold white text at the center, surrounded by scribbles, doodles, and playful brush strokes.

A triptych layout featuring three artworks: on the left, a textured, abstract portrait with intense color blending; in the center, a stylized graphic piece with the word “solidarity” and vibrant symbols; and on the right, an explosion of green, pink, and blue abstract patterns evoking nature and movement.

Bold abstract painting with drips of red, black, and yellow paint over a mix of purple, blue, and green shapes, evoking raw emotion and movement.

Buddhism is a contributor to this as one of its key teachings is balance, even though she admits the relationship between Buddhism and artivism is complex. “There is a movement called Engaged Buddhism, which places social justice as a focal concern, and it’s true that an ethical framework is a big part of Buddhism generally. On the other hand, there are teachings about acceptance, non-attachment, not-self, which can be interpreted as non-identifying and non-action.”

Colorful abstract painting composed of geometric shapes including circles, triangles, and rectangles. The composition features bold areas of pink, yellow, orange, and teal, with smaller details like a red squiggle and layered shapes. The overall effect is playful and modern with a sense of balance and rhythm.

Working digitally presents less tension—but also contributes to Atkins’s artivism with its easy access to text and more representative forms. “There seems to be this tradition in leftist artwork spaces of using certain mediums over others, such as print-making, and I’d like to be a part of that.”

Despite this strong leaning towards artivism, it is by no means the full definition of her work. Sian wants to be a part of making the beauty that she sees and craves around her—so she looks for ways to investigate and reconcile the tensions between artivism and aesthetics, the audience’s needs and her own, the message and the miracle of creation.

Artist Sian Atkins sits at a desk, painting a colorful abstract piece. Two finished canvases are propped up nearby. The workspace is lively, with brushes, paint tubes, and a palette scattered across the table. — Sian’s art desk is where everything comes together—color, cause, creativity. *“It feels more like it chose me,”* she says of her artivism.

A vibrant, abstract painting filled with overlapping fruits, vegetables, and plant-like forms. The canvas is crowded with bright colors, including reds, greens, yellows, and blues, representing a joyful, plant-centered world. — “Plant Power” by Sian Atkins pulses with vibrant organic forms and lush colors, celebrating the wild, electric energy of nature.

“So for me, I think it’s going to be about finding that balance, between making work that is aesthetically pleasing, palatable, commercial, but without sacrificing the kind of political messages I care about and think are important. Maybe this will mean making different pieces for different purposes, or trying to combine the two aims in the same piece. And I am happy with this.”

We at REROUTE are happy for her too—and can’t wait to see where the road will take her next. She’ll be off to Denmark and Scotland later this summer, and then back to the studio—ready to experiment!

Follow the Artist
To see more of Sian Atkins’ evolving universe of color, pattern, and purpose, follow her on Instagram: @sianatkinsart