Sikelela Owen RA (b. 1984) is a British artist whose ideas of community, intimacy, and authenticity are central to her practice. Drawing from early modern paintings of the 19th century, personal references, broader imagery, and narratives, Owen creates loose, layered figurative paintings that foreground the subjects and communities comprising her lived experience and memories of growing up with family in Zimbabwe, Jamaica, and America. A Royal Academy alumna, through undefined landscapes, visible underpainting, muted tones, and indistinct descriptions, the looseness of her oil painting perfectly mimics the fluidity of these spaces and the connections formed across them every day.
Solo Exhibitions include (Upcoming) Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, West Palm Beach, USA; (Upcoming) Tiwani Contemporary, London, UK (2026); Where my Gaze Falls, Tiwani Contemporary, London, UK (2024); The Air is Thick with Love, Taymour Grahne Projects, London, UK (2023); Steady Love, Taymour Grahne, London (2021); Sikelela Owen, James Freeman Gallery, London (2021); Laying Eyes with Sola Olulode, Alessandro Albanese Gallery, Milan (2021); Together, James Freeman Gallery, London (2020); Supper, Sleep and Sorrows, LdM Gallery Florence Italy (2020); Sikelela Owen, James Freeman Gallery, London (2019); Love, Eat , Sleep, Repeat, HSBC Canada Place, London (2017); People Everyday, NAM Project, Milan (2014); Everyday People, Norman Rea Gallery, University of York, York (2014); Nyacomba Vernon Mills, Manchester (2006).
Group exhibitions include Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London, UK (2025); Keeping Time, Gallery 1957, Accra, Ghana (2025); Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London, UK (2024); Soulscapes, Dulwich Picture Gallery, London, UK (2024); Eden, James Freeman Gallery, London, UK (2022); Intimacy, Taymour Grahne Projects, London, UK (2022); Reclaiming the Nymph: A Force of Nature, Gillian Jason Gallery, London, UK (2022); Laying Eyes, Alessandro Albanese Gallery, Milan, Italy (2021); Muse, James Freeman Gallery, London (2018); 100 Painters of Tomorrow, Beers Gallery, London (2015); Good Figures The Mall Gallery, London; Jerwood Space, West Sussex (2015); The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Gesso Arts Space, Vienna, Austria (2015); Portrait Show, curated by Andreas Reiter Gesso Arts Space, Vienna, Austria (2014); Anthology, Charlie Smith, London (2013); Young Gods Part 1, curated by Zavier Ellis Griffin Gallery, London (2013); FBA Futures, The Mall Gallery, London (2012); RA Schools Summer Show, Royal Academy of the Arts, London (2012), The Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of School, London (2011).
Highlights & Collections
Sikelela Owen RA has received wide recognition for her work, including the Charles Wollaston Award (2025), Elephant Lab Award, London (2019) Dover Streets Arts club award, London (2011), Richard Ford Award - Prado Museum travel and drawing award, Madrid (2010), Nichol Young Foundation Awards, London (2009-2012). Owens has been selected for the prestigious residency, Elephant Lab, London (2019). Her work is held in collections such as Harry David Art Collection, Simmons & Simmons, London, Sir Robert Heaton, London, Robert Hiscox, London and HG Capital, London Augustin, New York, USA.