Herald

Explore Herald’s work at Sharing Is Caring, a group exhibition in partnership with University College London Hospitals Arts & Heritage from 22 November - 5 February. Find out more about the exhibition at The Street Gallery of UCLH.

“I like finding out about the people I draw and why they are famous. The people inspire me”

— Herald

Herald creates vibrant and striking portraits using oil pastels, coloured pencils and sometimes clay. He focuses on Black history and culture, relaying narratives of prominent Black people in history during times of repression. As a Ghanaian artist, showing respect to other Black people whilst highlighting Black history and helping create equality is highly important to Herald, as well as the Artbox community.

Herald has been leaning into his knowledge about Jazz, Mo Town and Hip Hop, creating artworks that display a smorgasbord of cultural elements. Artbox has been a social outlet for Herald, once you get him talking about the figures in his artwork, he’ll open up, always delighted to share everything he knows. Herald keeps a sketchbook that he takes home after Artbox, and works on during the week. This sketchbook always comes back to the studio full of sketches and ideas - evidence that artmaking has become one of his preferred methods of processing and recording his interests and thoughts. Art is both a therapeutic practice and a vessel for Herald’s curiosity. He thinks of himself as an artist now and he uses this platform to share his world views and knowledge.

“Most of my art is about African, Caribbean and American history, culture and people, like musicians, film directors and leaders. I know for some people that they don’t like labels like ‘African American’, maybe because they’ve never been to Africa and that their DNA is actually made up of lots of different cultures. But for me, it’s about knowing my roots and where I come from. I’m interested in how it all comes together.”

“Learning about him (Martin Luther King) has helped me to stand up for myself and I’m free to be myself.”

In 2022 Herald was commissioned to create an album cover for a contemporary musical artist, combining his interest in both art and music. He enjoyed this challenge, and is hopeful that his art will reach wider audiences and contribute to growing inclusivity within the creative arts.

Original Art:

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