Features From The Black - Exhibition Opening Night

Showcasing a wide range of Black art from the diaspora, offering perspectives from emerging artists... Features From The Black showcases a wide range of Black art from the diaspora, offering perspectives from emerging artists who are navigating the challenges of being born, living in, or being culturally tied to The West. Rather than setting strict parameters of a narrow subject matter or theme, the exhibition aims to communicate the narrative of Blackness through four main facets: the historical, the contemporary, the mythical, and through urbanisation. These facets are themes and subjects favoured by Black artists, who despite huge progression, continue to be criminally under-represented even in today's art world. In a period of heightened Black Awareness (Black History Month), this exhibition aims to remind viewers that Blackness – its joys and its woes – must be appreciated not just in October, but across all 365 days of the year. And, despite massive strides being made, parts of the art world still have a long way to go in reversing its historical prejudices and needs to actively support and encourage Black art today. Thursday 1st October 2026 | 6–10pm Firepit Art Gallery & Studios CIC 10 Cutter Lane, Ground Floor Retail Unit, London SE10 0XX Features From The Black lineup Axematic Curtis Donovan Nicola Reid Kellie Every Julien Ipanga Chidimma Urunwa Alaina Cherry Maurice Mutua Garfield of London Araba Orcan Venetta Nicole Dan Draws Kiara Jade Adaugo Cerena Parkinson Leo Soufi Jada Veerle Minnie Themba Hafsatu Jalloh About the curator Axematic is a Firepit Resident Artist who specialises in portraiture utilising pastels. He has participated in close to three dozen exhibitions, including 2 solo shows. He has had showcases in Tate Modern, The Barbican and Kensington Palace to name a few. Influenced by Caravaggio and the Baroque style, he likes painting everyday Black people in the same light as your Deans of Oxbridge or Presidents of whatever Royal society. Contemporary figures painted in a history influenced style. He also likes to make plenty of social commentary in his works with the use of mirror universes, surrealism and magical reality to express his point. Aside from be part if the Firepit CIC collective, he also leads the 32-head Solar Collective 22 where he has curated a number of group shows in galleries around London from Mayfair to Shoreditch. The nearest tube is North Greenwich on the Jubilee line. We are a 5 minute walk from the tube station, and we are located right by the Thames Clipper boat pier. You can also find us on google maps - search for Firepit Art Gallery & Studios. If you have any questions in advance, regarding this event, please feel free to contact: [email protected] If you want to stay updated on the events and workshops we have at the Firepit; Please sign up for our monthly newsletter: Newsletter Sign Up You can also find directions on from google maps: MAP All Firepit links and info can be found here: Firepit Linktree Follow us on instagram: Follow We are a Community Interest Company (CIC) & we run as a not-for-profit. In our space we have a beautiful art gallery and artists studios. We run many workshops and events, for both our local community and the general public. As a CIC, we are committed to reinvesting our profits back into the community, ensuring sustainable and lasting impact. Join us in building a healthier, more vibrant neighbourhood, where the power of creativity becomes a catalyst for positive transformation and well-being for all.