McKenzie Thorpe’s instantly recognisable paintings speak through a rich, consistent visual language. Every recurring symbol carries deep personal and universal significance, blending nostalgia, vulnerability, hope, identity and emotional connection. Below is a comprehensive exploration of all the key symbols that appear throughout his work.
Hearts – Love, Compassion and Emotional Core
Hearts are among the most prominent and powerful motifs in Thorpe’s art. They symbolise love, compassion, kindness and the very centre of human feeling. Whether floating freely, clustered in abundance, or glowing as a single guiding light, hearts remind viewers that love remains the strongest and most essential force in life – capable of overwhelming beauty and quiet strength.
Examples of works featuring hearts:
Sheep – Family, Softness and Vulnerability
The iconic square sheep represent Thorpe’s own family – his wife and children – often shown in protective groupings. These gentle, rounded creatures embody tenderness, innocence and the fragile beauty of close relationships. Placed against stark or industrial backgrounds, the sheep highlight life’s softness and vulnerability, evoking warmth, protection and the quiet power found in family bonds.
Examples of works featuring sheep:
Large Boots and Duffle Coats – Childlike Innocence and Grounded Roots
Figures wearing oversized boots or duffle coats appear frequently. These elements symbolise a deliberate wish to remain childlike, open and grounded. The large boots represent staying connected to one’s origins and never losing touch with humility, no matter how life progresses. Duffle coats add layers of protection, simplicity and innocence, encouraging viewers to face challenges with the curiosity and resilience of youth.
Examples of works featuring large boots and duffle coats:
Industrial Landscapes of the North East – Grit, Identity and Hope
The factories, chimneys, terraced houses and urban structures of the North East form a recurring backdrop. These scenes reflect working-class heritage, hardship and identity. Yet within the grit lies warmth, comfort and nostalgia. The industrial elements contrast sharply with softer motifs, creating emotional tension between struggle and enduring hope.
Examples of works featuring industrial landscapes:
Bridges – Overcoming Obstacles and Moving Forward
Bridges often span the industrial landscapes. They symbolise transition, connection, resilience and the ability to overcome barriers. Thorpe has described them as ways to navigate around difficulties, enter new chapters and meet fresh challenges – quiet emblems of progress and possibility.
Examples of works featuring bridges:
Bees – Mindfulness and the Small Details of Life
Bees appear in many compositions, drawing attention to the subtle, overlooked moments that make life rich. They represent awareness, presence and mindfulness, reminding us to notice the quiet sounds, movements and tiny wonders that surround us every day.
Examples of works featuring bees:
Lack of Faces and Big Heads – Inclusivity and Universal Openness
Many figures have blank faces or deliberately oversized heads. The absence of detailed features creates inclusivity, allowing every viewer to see themselves in the work and project their own emotions and stories. The large heads particularly evoke children – new, uncorrupted, full of endless possibility, curiosity and equality before life begins to shape us differently.
Examples of works featuring lack of faces and/or big heads:
Sunflowers – Sunshine, Joy and Vitality
Sunflowers frequently appear, held by figures or surrounding hearts. They symbolise sunshine, optimism, joy and vitality. Their bright, open faces bring light and positivity, acting as a powerful counterbalance to more melancholic or industrial settings and reinforcing the theme of hope.
Square Animals (Beyond Sheep) – Conformity, Uniqueness and Protection
While the square sheep are the most famous, other animals occasionally adopt the same geometric form. Originally representing society’s narrow-mindedness and pressure to conform, the motif has evolved to emphasise uniqueness, protection and softness. The squared shape adds a distinctive, almost childlike abstraction that underscores vulnerability and individuality.
Solitary or Walking Figures – Resilience and Shared Human Journey
Lone figures – often in simple outlines or duffle coats – walk or stand apart. They symbolise individual journeys, quiet strength, resilience and community despite isolation. These solitary walkers evoke the shared human experience of moving forward with purpose, even when feeling alone.
Broad Smiles and Expressive Animals – Happiness, Freedom and Personality
Some works feature animals (giraffes, horses and others) or figures with exaggerated smiles, flowing manes or lively expressions. These represent different sides of personality, happiness, freedom and emotional openness, injecting gentle humour, vitality and joy into the broader emotional palette.
McKenzie Thorpe’s art is built on this complete symbolic vocabulary. Hearts, sheep, boots, duffle coats, industrial scenes, bridges, bees, faceless figures, sunflowers, square animals, solitary walkers and expressive smiles work together to tell layered stories of love, family, roots, vulnerability, resilience, mindfulness and hope. Each painting becomes a heartfelt conversation between the artist and the viewer – simple in form, profound in feeling, and universally relatable.