The January storms might have summoned up the weary blues, but here at CasildART, we haven't got the time to entertain winter weariness. Since the start of the new year, we’ve been on a rollercoaster ride of trials and tribulations, as we prepare to launch our new gallery space  - CasildART Contemporary.  In March 2023, our adventure to find the perfect spot began. Setting our sights on swanky Marble Arch in Connaught Village, we embarked on a quest to create a gallery dedicated to promoting contemporary Black art. We set ourselves three objectives the space should meet: Central Loc ..read more

Experience the Fusion of Art and Music - Drop the Needle: Art/Listening Party The underlying influence of music can be credited as being a significant factor in shaping some of the most iconic art pieces we know today. The connection has inspired groundbreaking creativity and left us mystified by the depth of emotions showcased through various mediums. Particularly in the black community, the impact of iconic music has been a recurring theme in inspiring heart-touching art. The “Drop the Needle” is our new series of art talks in collaboration with Brixton Brewery. which highlights the connect ..read more

Serpentine Pavilion 2022 designed by Theaster Gates. © Theaster Gates Studio. Photo: Iwan Baan. Courtesy: Serpentine. In the second part of our two-part blog on Blackness, we look at the work of three American artists: Theaster Gates, Kim Dacres and Tschabalala Self. Theaster Gates   Based in Chicago, Gates formally trained as a sculptor and urban planner and now works as an artist, curator and archivist. Through his training in urban planning and preservation, he developed an interest in space theory and the potentials of reinjecting life into spaces left behind. His work specifica ..read more

Lina Iris Viktor, Eleventh, 2018. Courtesy of the artist and Mariane Ibrahim Gallery. What is Blackness? This is a much-contested concept in the global art world as identity and representation are complex issues.. Although we’ve seen a rise in the number of Black artists featured in renowned institutions and achieving international success, discussions around the theme of Blackness in Black artists’ work rarely encapsulate the nuances they need and deserve. In his 1990 article ‘The burden of representation’, British art historian and writer Kobena Mercer outlined how Black artists were expect ..read more

We have come to the end of BHM, but our Harbottle & Lewis showcase continues into November, so this week we focus on our final theme, Blackness. Black is not a Monolith We can think of Blackness as a social concept which deeply affects people’s lives and experiences. However, Blackness is a multifaceted concept and Black people and artists are not a monolith. Every artist expresses Blackness in their own unique way, mirroring their experiences and interpretations of what it means to be Black. Out of all the artists in our showcase, Othello De’Souza-Hartley expresses Blackness powerfully an ..read more

Artist Anthony Daley at the Harbottle & Lewis exhibition © Comfort, Blanket by Artist Yvadney Davis Cultural heritage is a term that’s thrown around a lot particularly when we appraise or view the works of contemporary Black artists, but what does it actually mean in this context? Undoubtedly, the six artists in our Harbottle & Lewis Showcase draw on his/her specific ethnic and cultural backgrounds to inform their work, but not everything about their pieces can be attributed solely to their racial background. So what does cultural heritage mean? I think cultural heritage is inextrica ..read more

October is the month when we shine a light on Black history and cultural achievements to acknowledge the significant contributions Black people have made to society. However, at CasildART we champion contemporary Black art and artists every day and celebrate the joy and pleasure we find in the works. So in the spirit of BHM, we'd like to highlight the art events that honour and showcase the talent of Black artists. Here are six things to do this October to celebrate Black History Month in the art world! 1. Amy Sherald, Hauser and Wirth, London If you are a paintings enthusiast, we recommend Am ..read more

October is the month when we shine a light on Black history and cultural achievements to acknowledge the significant contributions Black people have made to society. However, at CasildART we champion contemporary Black art and artists everyday and celebrate the joy and pleasure we find in the works. So in the spirit of BHM, we'd like to highlight  the art events that honour and showcase the talent of Black artists. Here are six things to do this October to celebrate Black History Month in the artworld! 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Somerset House, London October is a a busy time o ..read more

  Benin Bronzes on display at the British Museum. Image Courtesy: Adam Eastland / Alamy Stock Photo   When my children were small we often visited the Horniman, an ethnographic museum in south London, during the school holidays and at weekends. I don't recall seeing any Benin Bronzes on display, but this month the Horniman agreed to return their collection of 72 cultural objects to Nigeria.     Benin Bronzes is an umbrella term that describes a range of artifacts including sculptural pieces, brass plaques, ivory leopard statues, elaborate altarpieces, ornate staffs, c ..read more

Charlie Phillips, Waiting for the Tube (1967), Image courtesy: The Guardian Black photographers have enriched the UK photographic landscape   This year Charlie Phiillps the Jamaican born photographer, received an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours for his services to photography and the arts! A collective exclamation echoed throughout the UK:‘About time too’. The recognition is clearly long overdue as Phillips is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Black photography and with his high calibre of work, should be regarded as a famous documentary photographer with his profound ..read more