The Wick

The art of perception. Painting is an act of memory and touch,” says this week's #Spotlight Bianca Raffaella, whose delicate yet dynamic works transform the fragility of perception into something profoundly poetic. Blending acrylic, ink, foil, and leaf, her textured compositions shimmer with figures, flowers, and shadows—emerging like half-forgotten dreams. This February, Flowers Gallery presents "Faint Memories," Raffaella’s much-anticipated debut solo exhibition. Raffaella’s work is a release of emotions and expressions which reflect her experience of visual impairment.  “Bianca’s work is deeply personal and profoundly moving,” says Matthew Flowers, Managing Director of Flowers Gallery. “Her ability to distill fleeting impressions into ethereal compositions is extraordinary.” From her breakout at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition in 2021 to this defining moment, Raffaela is one to watch. Read the full feature on The Wick – https://lnkd.in/eH-UU2FA. #BiancaRaffaella #FaintMemories #TheWick #FlowersGallery #EmergingPainter

This week’s #MondayMuse is caroline issa, the Montreal-born creative force behind Tank Magazine/Tank Form Ltd and editor of becauselondon.com. A master curator, oscillating between fashion and art, publishing, and global luxury – Issa has become known as a bridge maker across the worlds of art and creativity. Her innate style and visionary approach have seen her co-branding collections with Nordstrom, Monica Vinader Ltd, and Label/Mix. Her recent podcast with TANK sees the publisher fusing politics, art, and culture in rich conversations. As winter winds and the festive season strikes the capital, Caroline shares with The Wick her favorite London culturally curious spots, the designers blending art and fashion in groundbreaking ways, and the advice she gives to young creatives forging their own paths. Read Issa's full interview on The Wick – https://lnkd.in/e43294SQ. #TheWick #CarolineIssa #CulturalConnector #WomenInLeadership #TANKMagazine

Time for your Culturally Curious fix this week in London... 📍‘Hank Willis Thomas: Kinship of the Soul,’ Pace Gallery. Today – 21 December 2024. 📍 'Self-Made: Reshaping Identities,' Foundling Museum. Now – 1 June 2025. 📍‘María Berrío: The End of Ritual,' Victoria Miro. Today – 18 January 2025. Read more about our exhibition news on thewickculture.com.

This week’s #Spotlight is Rob Davis, whose photorealistic renderings of domestic spaces evoke a world suspended between memory and imagination.  With a career spanning over 25 years, Davis captivates with his meticulous oil paintings—intimate snapshots of the 1970s and 1980s everyday objects, steeped in the ambiance of his childhood. Davis was a standout at Frieze London, championed by Broadway Gallery and handpicked by Rashid Johnson for his “robust and sincere” practice. Davis' Champion on The Wick is artist Angel Otero, Davis’ longtime friend, who describes him as a source of inspiration and a steadfast collaborator.  Read more on The Wick – https://lnkd.in/eG4qtzP4. #RobDavis #ArtistToArtist #Frieze #Painter 

The art of jewellery.   This week’s #MondayMuse is Cora Sheibani, the Swiss-born London-based jewellery designer and maker whose creations have redefined contemporary jewellery and become the must-have symbol of style for the art world.   Known for her vibrant use of colour, unique materials, and inspirations—from cookbooks to cacti—Sheibani’s designs delight with touches of her passions like gardening, first showcased at Sotheby’s US. Her standout collections include vibrant pills, puddings, and clouds, crafted by master goldsmiths across Europe. Since launching her label in 2002 after gemmology training, Sheibani’s one-of-a-kind pieces have been celebrated in exhibitions from London and Zurich to New York and Miami. The daughter of Swiss art dealers and collectors, her creative roots run deep—she recalls painting with Jean-Michel Basquiat at age 4. The art of making has been with her ever since. We caught up with Sheibani to hear more about her process, the material she’s dying to work with next, and why she’s pining after a Jonas Woods painting. Read the full interview on The Wick – https://lnkd.in/epyGYUEJ. #CoraSheibani #JewelleryArt #LondonDesigner #TheWick #MondayMuse #artmeetsfashion

This week’s #Spotlight is Laura Footes, whose painterly work channels memories and relationships that live deep within—her personal journey through chronic illness, recovery, and resilience. Bed-bound after surgeries, she found escape in film noir, a world of shadows and ethereal light that now seeps into her canvases. Her work is dreamlike, haunting, and alive, capturing moments that feel just out of reach. Today, Laura is championed by Dame Tracey Emin DBE RA, who recognised the power of her vision and offered her space at TKE Studios in Margate, transforming the way she works. This month, Emin curates Footes’ solo exhibition “A Healing Dream” at Carl Freedman Gallery—a tribute to struggle, survival, and the beauty found within. Read more about Footes’ practice on The Wick – https://lnkd.in/egzSy_HJ. Photo courtesy of Carl Freedman Gallery. #LauraFootes #TraceyEmin #TKEStudios #Painting #Spotlight #TheWickSpotlight #ArtistToWatch

This week’s #Spotlight is Lydia Smith, the London-based artist merging ancient techniques with digital futurism in an exploration of human connection. Her process begins with clay, where she finds a flow state, letting themes of ancient history, technology, and spirituality emerge organically. Once complete, these pieces evolve into pixelated digital forms, creating captivating works that bridge the physical and virtual. With exhibitions at Christie's’s, Saatchi Gallery, and now at BOWMAN SCULPTURE LTD for its current exhibition “The Graduate Exhibition 2024.” Smith’s Champion on The Wick is Mica Bowman, Director of Bowman Sculpture. Read more about her practice on https://lnkd.in/eBBb7AUN #TheWick #SculptureArt #ContemporaryArt #ArtExhibitionLondon

This week’s #MondayMuse is Florence Bourgeois, the visionary director behind FIAC and Paris Photo Fair, whose passion for cultivating accessible and forward-thinking art experiences has positioned these fairs as cultural keystones. Bourgeois, who began her career in medicine and public health, brings a unique perspective to her role, balancing curatorial prowess with an understanding of the socio-cultural importance of art. Her leadership has been integral in drawing new audiences to Paris Photo, now recognized as the world’s foremost photography fair, and FIAC, a must-see for contemporary art. Read Bourgeois’ full interview on https://lnkd.in/ecvxWVd4 #TheWick #ParisPhotoFair #FlorenceBourgeois

This week’s #Spotlight is Dola Posh, the emerging artist whose colourful photographs honour the resilience and complexity of Black women, mothers, and their mental and sexual health journeys. A mother herself, Dola weaves visual narratives and poetic fragments to tell stories that centre the intimate struggles and joys of these identities. A finalist for the Young Masters Art Prize in 2023 and recipient of the Leica Women Foto Project Award in 2024, Posh's work speaks to the transformative power of shared experience. Posh’s Champion for The Wick is Cynthia Corbett, Founder & Director of Cynthia Corbett Gallery and Young Masters Art Prize. Read more about Posh’s work, and watch her interview from 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair on The Wick – https://lnkd.in/eSQNT9PZ. #DolaPosh #TheWick #CynthiaCorbettGallery #YoungMastersArtPrize

This week's #MondayMuse is Senior Curator, Contemporary at the Victoria and Albert Museum and cultural powerhouse behind some of London's most dynamic exhibitions, installations, and performances Meneesha Kellay. Kellay has transformed the museum experience, supporting emerging creative voices through groundbreaking projects like Friday Late, the London Design Festival, and the London Festival of Architecture. Last year, Kellay co-curated the acclaimed British Pavilion at Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia 2023, earning a Special Mention Award. As Asian Art Week kicks off, we caught up with Meneesha to dive into her inspirations, bold approach to curating, and love for vibrant Southall, where she finds endless creative energy. Read the full interview on The Wick: https://lnkd.in/eAkvNQ_J. #TheWick #Curator #AsianArtWeek #VictoriaandAlbertMuseum