Bold Black British is the title of Christie’s private sale devoted to black British artists and curated by young talent, Aindrea Emelife. The showcase highlights the legacy and influence of Black British artists with work from pioneering icons of the 80s, Sonia Boyce and Marlene Smith, to upcoming and contemporary names, including Hew Locke, Samson Kambalu, Emily Moore, Kesewa Aboah, Anya Paintsil and Olivia Sterling. Traversing generation and history, the curation brings together often overlooked artists while celebrating the richness, exuberance, and verve of Black art. There’s a beautifully symbolic piece in the shape of 3d meditation tree sculpture by Ibrahim El-Salahi, a totemic clan sculpture by Zak Ove alongside striking figurative work by Sola Olulode. The curator, Aindrea Emelife is a 27-year-old art historian, writer, independent curator, author, and presenter from London. Aindrea trained as an art historian at the Courtauld Institute of Art.
London’s biggest celebration of contemporary craftsmanship is back with a bang and from 4-10 October the city will be buzzing with nearly 400 events, including workshops, immersive experiences, pop-ups and exhibitions championing some of the world’s most beautiful objects and most talented designer-makers.
Returning for its seventh edition, this year’s festival spotlights 350 makers from 31 countries, working across the fields of craft, art, design, fashion, luxury, food and beauty. It showcases their ingenuity and tenacity as well as technical skill and unparalleled creativity, while highlighting the widespread embrace of innovative materials and sustainable practices.
London Craft Week takes place across the city, with a concentrated series of events in Belgravia, Chelsea and Seven Dials. Pop over to Pimlico for the ‘Pimlico Road Series’ of talks, panels and interactive workshops before wandering over to Chelsea’s Pavilion Road, where you’ll encounter the ‘Artisan Chelsea’ series of experiences.
Not to be missed is Nicole Fahri and Lucile Lewin’s joint exhibition, In Good Company, celebrating female friendship. New works made in bronze, jesmonite, porcelain and glass will be shown alongside selected earlier pieces in Lewin’s beautiful Victorian school house in Marylebone.
Elsewhere, London Glassblowing Studio stages a solo show of figurative sculpture by Elliot Walker, while Tristan Hoare Gallery presents an exhibition that brings together emerging and established contemporary artists who create hand-moulded ceramics, without the use of a wheel. With so much to see and do, we couldn’t think of a better way to while away a Sunday afternoon.
