BlackFest 2024-Visual Arts Exhibition Programme Launch at Smithdown Social

Join us in BlackFest Black History Month as we are so excited to present 4 incredible artists as part ofour Visual Arts Exhibition and programme supported by Smithdown Social Arts Hub Gallery 455.

Meet the artists:

· Ridwa Horreh, an aspiring artist and PhD student Exhibition: Black femininity. Her Exhibition 'Reclaiming Black Femininity' photography and videography series is a bold exploration of Black women's beauty in its raw, unfiltered and unedited form. Ridwa’s project challenges and redefines societal perceptions by showcasing Black femininity's intimate and diverse multifaceted nature in ways we rarely see. Her research inspired this project; for the past four years, she has been trying to understand the unique positionality of Black women as a Black Somali Artist.

· Cara Walker is a visual artist who focuses her intentions on amplifying the Black voice. Her exhibition is a new rendition of The Clean slate exhibition developed from a 3 month artist residency at the Wales Millenium Centre. Through avenues like poetry, visual arts and storytelling, I explored the Black identity through a historical Welsh lens, focusing on the duality of being Welsh and Black whilst also uncovering the hidden history of Wales’ connection to the Slave trade.

· Kassessa Gandara, a self-taught visual artist from Angola creates different concepts of artistic expression through a variety of mediums. Looking at roots and demystifying African culture. He is presented fine art intricate and delicate pieces of abstract drawing includes symbolism and preservation of historic African Art merged with the Afrofuturism.

· Mary Jasmine, a visual and multidisciplinary artist who creates painting rooted Vibrant African Arts Culture. Her roots are Nigerian and she draws from her culture and her main inspiration comes from Kenyan Masai tribal art. She is constantly exploring African art connecting to ancestral history, roots and culture she spiritually centres her body and prepares ritualistically before creating any piece she paints.

Host or Publisher BlackFest