About the artist
“Art is where we discover and express our humanity; a place where we find a language to share our ideas and our emotions. It has the responsibility of helping society deal with its conflicts and contradictions. As an artist, I see it as my role to facilitate this”
Ayesha Feisal is a British/ Sierra Leonean artist born in London, where she currently lives and works. An interdisciplinary artist, Feisal creates complex, amorous forms, drawing inspiration from the study of behaviour and the mind, whilst exploring the effects of experience. Influenced by the the expressionist and futurist movement; her intrigue comes from how artists of such eras depicted meaning and experience; as well as movement and time. As a result, she displays intense – and sometimes unnatural – colours as a way to heighten the emotion in her work.
Feisal’s art is reflective of her interest in psychological states and she uses the human form as a means to explore the psyche. Her works have been an ongoing response to events and situations; influenced by her interest in consciousness, universal law, balance and truth. She is drawn to portray characters with elevated mind sets, who move beyond the impact of circumstance, environment and social condition.
Concerned with issues that affect black women globally, Feisal sees creativity as a form of resistance and is an ardent advocate for self empowerment. In 2015 she became a founding member of the Black British Female Artist (BBFA). The BBFA collective address the invisibility of UK’s Black female artists and disparity in prominence to their male counterparts. Focussed on building opportunities for black female artists, the work diversely reflects Diaspora stories.
Feisal has exhibited in numerous group shows including Bargehouse Gallery, London (2015) as part of the AACDD Festival; ‘A Seat at the Table’, 198 Gallery, London; ACDF Festival, Lagos, Nigeria; 1:54 Contemporary Art Fair ‘Off The Tracks’ with Little Africa/ Des Gosses Marrakesh, Morocco as part of an artist residency and Dakar Biennale (OFF Dak’Art Gallery of Small Things) Senegal. In 2019, Feisal was selected for ‘No Room for Fear’ with SMO Contemporary, BBFA Collective and Smithsonian in London, and ArtX Lagos with Tafeta Gallery.
She has been featured in; Evening Standard, Harpers Bazaar Arabia, ALT Africa and Petrie Inventory
Education:
BA (Hons) Graphic Fine Art
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Exhibition History:
2021 ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2021 Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, Main Galleries, Burlington House, London
2020 Negritude Re-Embodied, Hoxton 253 Gallery, London
2019 ArtX Lagos (Tafeta/BBFA) Federal Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
2019 No Room For Fear, Hogan Lovells LLP in partnership with the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Enam Gbewonyo and SMO Contemporary Art (Nigeria), Holborn, London
2019 Transitions, Tafeta Gallery, Fitzrovia, London
2019 The Next Wave: The Power of Authenticity and Self Validation (HAART), Hoxton Arches, London
2018 BBFA Presents/, Tafeta Gallery, Fitzrovia, London
2018 Dakar Biennale, OFF Dak’Art, GoST group show, Douta Seck Cultural Centre, Dakar, Senegal
2018 1:54 Contemporary Art Fair ‘Off The Tracks’ (Little Africa/ Des Gosses), Marrakech, Morocco
2017 African Culture and Design Festival (Gallery of Small Things), Federal Palace, Lagos, Nigeria
2017 ‘A Seat At The Table’, BBFA collective group show, 198 Gallery, London
2016 ‘Formation’, Camden Image Gallery, London
2016 Art Meets Music, Hoxton Gallery, London
2016 Black British Female Artist (B.B.F.A) Discussion Forum, Lacey Contemporary, UK
2015 Vision To Reality, TedX, Euston, UK
2015 AACDD Festival, Bargehouse Gallery, Oxo Tower, London
2014 Through The Kaleidoscope’, Islington, London
2013 Cork Street Open exhibition, Mayfair, London
2013 Art of Tottenham, 639 Studios, London, UK
2013 Mokspace Gallery, Bloomsbury, London
2012 Art of Tottenham, 639 Studios, London, UK
2012 Figure Black,Brixton, London
Ayesha Feisal 