Art Balaayo / 2017

Red Door Studios, London E6

Elizabeth led a project during her time as curator of the event space at Red Door, supporting young Somali women in developing their creative practice.

Elizabeths role was to mentor and provide practical support for the young artists and enable them to curate, organise and install an exhibition within the gallery space. 

'The focus of the exhibition is to highlight the work of Somali artists and to open, challenge and explore unspoken narratives. I believe it’s important for us to create space and platforms to represent ourselves.' 

Zeinab Saleh - lead artist.

‘This exhibition is my favourite because in the early stages of my artistic practice and being in my first year of art school, at the time it was very rare for me to relate to anything or anyone in an exhibition space. This exhibition was one of the first art spaces I had the honour to attend where I felt the art being shared was from a genuine place. Big up to all the Somali women who exhibited their art that day. The energy of that private viewing was uplifting and I will always cherish it’

Jannat - on the exhibition opening.