A group exhibition featuring nine contemporary artists opens at Pictorum Gallery

‘Only Until This Cigarette is Ended’, a group exhibition by nine contemporary artists, offers a multifaceted exploration of collective memory and reflection at Pictorum Gallery.

Image: Only Until This Cigarette is Ended exhibition at Pictorum Gallery. Image courtesy of Pictorum Gallery.

A group exhibition, Only Until This Cigarette is Ended, has opened at Pictorum Gallery, showcasing the works of nine international artists. Among them are Leily Moghtader Mojdehi, Tosin Kalejaye, Naomi Boiko, Olamide Ogunade, Elena Rivera-Montanes, Verde, Nina Baxter, Johanna Bath, and Brittany Fanning. Inspired by Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem of the same name, the exhibition delves into moments of reflection and nostalgic memory. Each artist presents a distinct perspective, drawing from their unique experiences, culture, and heritage.

Image: Face Card II, 2023 by Tosin Kalejaye. Image courtesy of the artist and Pictorum Gallery

Leily Moghtader Mojdehi, an Iranian woman living in London, weaves interdisciplinary textile works that explore her transcultural identity, blurring the line between collective experience and personal memory. Tosin Kalejaye, a self-taught Nigerian artist, creates portraits that convey his own ideas and experiences around the everyday Black experience, shedding light on contemporary Nigerian culture. Olamide Ogunade's paintings blend research and physical representation to address discourses around individualism, beauty, and race in a contemporary context.

Verde's paintings reimagine historical archetypes, challenging classical compositions and focusing on the power dynamics of the naked versus the nude. Nina Baxter's works capture the quiet moments in life, depicting relationships and shared meals in a way that carries a subtle melancholy and nostalgic feel. Johanna Bath and Elena Rivera-Montanes use photography as a starting point for their paintings, exploring themes of time, loss, and personal history. Their works evoke a sense of familiarity and invite contemplative engagement.

Image: Storm Party, 2023 by Brittany Fanning. Image courtesy of the artist and Pictorum Gallery

Naomi Boiko's watercolour on canvas works and Brittany Fanning's large-scale oil paintings delve into our relationships with the domestic sphere, animals, food, and the self. Through colour and fragmented imagery, they offer glimpses into their own lives.

Head to Pictorum Gallery now to engage in this impressive showcase featuring a diverse range of artistic expressions, encouraging collective reflection through varied narratives.

Date: 14 July – 11 August 2023. Location: 2 Portman Square, London, W1H 6LA. Price: Free. Website: pictorumgallery.com