JEMILA ISA
(b. London, UK)
Her practice spanning painting, sculpture, and animation, engages with themes of spirituality, faith, womanhood and the tension of locating the self amidst inherited narratives.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I grew up in the church and experienced both its restrictions and the deep sense of community, belonging, and identity it can provide. In many ways, my practice feels like a personal ministry—one that both honors and questions the role of the church in shaping lives.
Much of my work explores the impact of religion and spirituality on women, particularly within African communities—both on the continent and across the diaspora. I often depict figures with wide, startled eyes or vacant, detached expressions to convey a quiet urgency. These gazes reflect the invisible pressures of rigid belief systems and institutions, especially the church, and speak to the inner struggles of women denied agency, voice, or choice.
My practice is as much about the unseen as it is about the visible: the silent forces of faith and tradition, the presence of ancestral spirits and invisible gods, and the quiet lives of women shaped by expectation. At once personal and collective, my work invites viewers to reflect on what is inherited, what is imposed, and what can be reclaimed.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025— Held By Invisible Hands: Cape Town, Stevenson
2024 — Unvisited Dreams:Memories in practice: London, Lofty, Black Curatorial
DUO EXHIBITIONS
2025 — In Her Spirit: London, Bolanle Contemporary, Sadie Coles HQ, The Shop
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 — Catharsis: London, Chelsea Centre for Creative Industries
2024 — Works on Paper 6: London, Blue Shop Gallery
AWARDS/GRANTS
2023 — Art Council England, DYCP grant (round 18)
RESIDENCIES
2025 — Black Blossoms Studio Residency
ART FAIRS
2025 — Art Basel
2025 — RMB Latitudes
PRESS