“Art is where we discover and express our humanity; we find a language to share our ideas and 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 lives and works. An interdisciplinary artist, Feisal creates complex, amorous forms, drawing inspiration from studying behaviour and the mind whilst exploring the effects of experience. Influenced by the expressionist and futurist movement, her intrigue comes from how artists of such eras depicted meaning, experience, movement, and time. As a result, she displays intense – and sometimes unnatural – colours to heighten the emotion in her work.

Feisal’s art reflects her interest in psychological states, and she uses the human form 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 who move beyond the impact of circumstance, environment and social condition.

Feisal is a passionate advocate for self-empowerment and uses creativity as a form of resistance to address issues that impact black women worldwide. She co-founded the Black British Female Artist (BBFA) group in 2015 to combat the lack of visibility and recognition for black female artists in the UK. The BBFA collective works to create more opportunities for black female artists, and their diverse work represents stories from the Diaspora.

Feisal has exhibited in numerous group shows, including; 1:54 Contemporary Art Fair (‘Off The Tracks’) Marakesh, Morocco and Dakar Biennale (OFF Dak’Art Gallery of Small Things) Senegal. In 2019 she was selected for; ‘No Room for Fear’ with SMO Contemporary, BBFA Collective and Smithsonian National Museum of African Art; she also exhibited with Tafeta Gallery at ArtX Lagos. In 2021, Feisal was selected to show at the Royal Academy ‘Reclaiming The Magic’ exhibition and the ING Discerning Eye and more recently, The Rites of Passage exhibition and Gagosian, London.

She has been featured in; Evening Standard, Harpers Bazaar Arabia, ALT Africa and Petrie Inventory.