Pie Herring: I Am Because We Are: Paintings from a Ghanaian Residency
8th February, 2025 to 8th March, 2025
CasildArt Gallery
32 Connaught Street
London
W2 2AF
Artist Pie Herring is exhibiting a new series of paintings, drawings and a limited edition charity print in a solo exhibition “I Am Because We Are: Paintings from a Ghanaian Residency” with Arms Around the Child.
Arms Around The Child X Pie Herring is at CasildArt Contemporary in London from 28th February to 8th March 2025. The exhibition is co-curated by co-founder of AATC Art Residency Jason Colchin-Carter and Arms Around the Child committee member Lee Sharrock.
Herring produced 20 paintings and a limited edition print of the main Exhibition painting ’Senya’ during an artist residency at the newly opened Arms Around the Child ‘Christian Atsu Educational Centre’ in Senya Beraku, Ghana in 2023-2024. This series showcases a kaleidoscope of multi-figured paintings seeped in colourful activity, as well as a collection of intimate portraits fusing classical methods with contemporary flair.
Herring’s work is a celebration of the cultural richness that shaped her experience of painting along Ghana’s coast. On display is an array of bustling fishing scenes, lively markets, and women adorned in traditional attire. Through radiant hues and layered compositions, she immerses viewers in the rhythm, energy, and stories of the people she encountered in Senya Beraku.
“Experiencing a new landscape steeped in heritage and culture has had a profound impact on my work. With this collection, I hope to share the vitality and spirit of this extraordinary community with a broader audience.” Pie Herring
The “I Am Because We Are” collection reveals a series of figurative paintings created by Herring during her artist residency with Arms Around the Child, a charity dedicated to providing safe homes, education, and support for children in need across the globe. The AATC artist residency offered Herring a unique opportunity to travel to Ghana, where she immersed herself in the charity’s mission and explored the country’s energetic culture, rooted in tradition and full of personality. She was also given the chance to engage with the country’s thriving and emerging global art scene, which deeply influenced her creative process.
The exhibition’s title “I am Because We Are” emphasises the concept of mutual responsibility and care within the communities which are at the heart of Arms Around the Child’s work. It emphasises the importance of supporting and uplifting one another, recognising that the flourishing of each individual contributes to the overall well-being of the community.
This philosophy highlights the idea that individual identity is not isolated but rather emerges within the context of communal life. One’s sense of self is inseparable from the collective identity of the community, shaped by shared experiences, values, and cultural heritage.
About Pie Herring
Pie Herring, a celebrated name in contemporary figurative painting, is renowned for her ability to capture the dynamism of human experience and culture through her expressive brushwork and charismatic narratives. Her work explores themes of identity, community and human connection and is deeply influenced by her travels and residencies across the world. Her work has been exhibited with galleries internationally including New York, London, Nairobi, Marrakech and Mombasa.
Ghana’s contemporary art scene has surged in recent years, emerging as a dynamic force within the global art landscape. During her residency Herring spent time exploring Accra’s contemporary art spaces and scenes. She was heavily inspired by the bold use of colour, intricate patterns and powerful cultural storytelling she observed. This influence is no more evident than within Herring’s painting “Senya”.
The exhibition will include an invitation-only reception on 7th March, where visitors can meet the artist and explore the inspirations behind her work. Herring will also be present throughout the duration of the exhibition to host tours and discussions about the collection.
Pie Herring: I Am Because We Are: Paintings from a Ghanaian Residency opens on the 8th of February, 2025 until the 8th of March, 2025 at CasildArt Contemporary
©2025 Arms Around The Child
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