Ken McCalla

Residency period: August 2025

 

Ken McCalla lives and works in Tooting, with close family ties to Jamaica. He was brought up and went to school in Wandsworth and did a Fine Art Degree in Central School of Art, he has over 40 years of experience as a visual artist including working with the pioneering Black art Gallery. He uses colourful imagery in his work to express a rich cultural heritage celebrating African heritage, while also exploring personal growth & harmony.

 

The Residency allowed him the physical space & the time to focus on his own printmaking ideas with a solo print exhibition at the end. His focus was on developing his printmaking - linked to the vibrant and meaningful world of African symbolism. And in his time in the gallery he shared an insight into his working process.

 

To encourage community engagement Ken included a series of free print workshops supported by a grant from London Borough of Culture with two Peer Collaboration Events. The 'In Conversation' Event featured Alvin Kofi, who was the finalist in Sky's Portrait Artist of the Year. And on the last day the Peer Collaboration Event featured poet & storyteller Eli Anderson and musician Mark Blackford. 

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Ken says: 

'Being 2025 Sprout Artist in Residence was a joy, I was able to focus on neglected medium of lino printing & get direct feedback from the  Sprout community in the process. I found support from the Sprout community that helped me in creating/developing a new body of work. I was given the space to be creative, & able to be experimental in collaborating with fellow Artists. Sharing my art practice in Sprout, helped shape how I see my art communicates with audience.'

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View the the film of his residency on our Youtube Channel HERE

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To find out more contact Ken@yahwarts.co.uk and to see his portfolio of work @yahw_arts or visit yahwarts.co.uk​

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