R O I S I N

“Love isn’t just emotion — it’s a practice, a decision we return to every day.” — Roisin Jones In this video, Roisin Jones reflects on her practice and her new series Love Learns to Breathe — a body of work that explores Black love, self-love, and intimacy as acts of resistance, remembrance, and restoration. Inspired by the writings of bell hooks, Jones invites us to consider love not as sentiment, but as power — a radical practice of seeing and being seen. 🎥 @malikdirectedit 📍 Booth W8 Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA, United Kingdom VIP & Press Preview: Thursday 16 October, 11AM – 7PM Public Openings: 17–18 October, 11AM – 7PM | 19 October, 11AM – 6PM Enquiries: [email protected] #The1897Gallery #RoisinJones #LoveLearnsToBreathe #154London #BlackArt #WomenInArt #ContemporaryArt #LoveAsLiberation

3 days to go ❗️ ‘To Be Held, To Be Seen’ opens at Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2026 this week, marking The 1897 Gallery’s inaugural presentation at the fair. Bringing together works by Afeez Onakoya, Roisin Jones, and Yanma Fofana, the presentation unfolds through gesture, movement, memory, and care. Across drawing, relief sculpture, and painting, intimacy is positioned not as sentiment, but as practice. We look forward to welcoming you in Cape Town. 📍 Lookout Section, Booth L7 🗓 20–22 February 2026 📌 Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town #The1897Gallery #InvestecCapeTownArtFair #ICTAF2026 #ContemporaryArt

Roisin Jones at @investeccapetownartfair Roisin Jones is a London-born interdisciplinary artist working across sculpture, installation, performance, photography, and archival research. Rooted in her British-Caribbean heritage, her practice explores how the body and memory function as living archives, examining care, transformation, and belonging. Jones presents sculptural reliefs from her ongoing series Love Learns to Breathe, which explores Black love, self-love, and intimacy as radical acts of care. Inspired by the writings of bell hooks, love is framed not as sentiment but as methodology. Across the works, lighter registers of intimacy come into focus through gestures of holding, play, and quiet reverence, where seeing and being seen become acts of agency. 📍 Lookout Section, Booth L7 🗓 20–22 February 2026 📌 Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town #The1897Gallery #InvestecCapeTownArtFair #ICTAF2026 #RoisinJones #ContemporaryArt

Link to tickets in Bio! Celebrate the Launch of (Re)Told From RCA graduates to leading global practitioners: join us as we unwrap the stories that have shaped our community. (Re)Told is more than a book; it is a living archive of excellence, perspective, and perseverance within the Royal College of Art. We welcome you to connect with the authors and contributors, engage with our documented history, and support the continued evolution of this vital creative network.

I’m proud to share a video documentary from the residency that took place last year in Jamaica, with Roisin Jones and Richard Nattoo. This project began as a collaboration, developing a residency and duo show around the theme of the River Mama. Titled Bound Waters – Confluence, it became a meaningful experience—working closely together to create a body of work rooted in mythology while reinterpreting it within a contemporary context. This project reflects one of my core goals in the arts: reconnecting the diaspora with local narratives. As one of my first projects, it holds particular significance. I’m deeply grateful for the way it resonated with audiences, and for the support and engagement it continues to receive. This marks an important step toward something larger that continues to grow and take shape. Link in bio for the full video — A sincere thank you to everyone involved Roisin Jones @iam_roisin and Richard Nattoo @djsinista , for your trust and collaboration Jodeane Nattoo @iamjodeane for her presence and the creation of the costume for the performance Liza-Marie Williams for editing the video. Olympia Gallery, and Rosemary Braithwaite for hosting us and supporting the project. @olympiagalleryja Artisan House—Sayan and Maelle Johnston—for your generosity, space, and all the invaluable support behind the scenes @itsartisanhouse Emma Miles for contributing to the documentary and for your continued support @kindredfeeling Doreen Howell Watson, wife of Barrington Watson and manager of Orange Park Great House, for welcoming us into her home and allowing us to film the interview there @orange_park_ja Jermaine Smith for his help and filming during the events. Koda (Artisan House) for his everyday support, generosity, and precious knowledge throughout the project. Matthew (Artisan House) for his support, generosity, and for sharing his precious knowledge. The Olympia Gallery team—Kevarney, Natalie, Grammy, Michael, Keven—for their daily support. Suzie Wong for her encouragement @suziewongpresents Garfield Williams (Trench Town Pottery) for sharing his space, knowledge, and generosity @trenchtownartcentre #jamaica #exhibition #art #artist #caribbean

ROISIN JONES I Will Hold You Lightly, 2026 Selenite (Gypsum) with Stainless Steel Frame Unframed: 7.88 x 3.94 in. | 20 x 10 cm Framed: 15.35 x 4.13 in. | 39 x 10.5 cm We’re proud to present this new work by Roisin Jones at Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2026. I will hold you lightly is informed by the Japanese concept of mono no aware—an awareness of impermanence, and the quiet emotional clarity that arises from it. It speaks to the tenderness that comes from loving something precisely because it will pass. Mono no aware is not despair, but intimacy with time. The sadness it carries is gentle, inseparable from gratitude. Beauty matters more because it is temporary. Rendered in selenite and framed in steel, the work illustrates that soft ache: the knowledge that something is fleeting, and therefore precious. Love here is light, playful, and transcendent. It isn’t diminished by impermanence, but deepened by it. 📍Lookout Section, Booth L7 🗓️20-22 February 206 📌 Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town #RoisinJones #InvestecCapeTownArtFair #ICTAF2026 #The1897Gallery #ContemporaryAfricanArt

Union, 2025 Selenite (Gypsum) with stainless steel frame Unframed: 20 x 10 cm, Framed: 39 x 10.5cm My practice is grounded in a fascination with the origins of being — the notion that we are all born from the earth itself, composed of the same elements that shape stone and soil. My work draws from ancient cosmologies that tell of the soul’s creation as a single entity split in two, destined to wander the earth in search of its counterpart. Through this lens, I explore ideas of separation, reunion, and the material nature of spirit. Continuing the stone work I began developing in 2022, I work primarily with selenite plates — luminous, translucent surfaces that become conduits for reflection and transformation. Each piece embodies a dialogue between the metaphysical and the physical, the longing of the soul mirrored in the structure of the earth. The result is a body of work that is both intimate and elemental — a meditation on belonging, duality, and the eternal return to wholeness. #art #london #mixedmedia #love #artlondon #metalwork #carving #sculpture #selenite #crystals #white #lovers #light #intimacy #energy #face #spirit #nature #stone #beloved #union #reunion #white #crystal #metal #metalwork #steel #spirit #spiritual #cosmology #reflection #transformation #meditation

Daydreamer, 2025 🌸💗 Brass, acrylic and watercolours on wooden panel Unframed: 84.5 x 104 cm Framed: 86 x 106cm #art #london #mixedmedia #love #artlondon #metalwork #brass #gold #watercolour #pink #purple #selflove #butterfly #acrylic #painting #spring #reclining #power #butterfly #flower #tenderness #breathe

The Warmth in your Arms, 2025 Brass, acrylic and watercolour on wood panel Unframed : 89 x 89 cm Framed: 92.5 x 92.5 cm Its is a moment in a relationship where you feel that this feels right, idealisation of love. it is the merging of two people coming into one. This piece represents the early summer season within a relationships. As his lover dozes, he cherishes her closely like a guardian angel. #art #london #mixedmedia #love #artlondon #metalwork #brass #gold #watercolour #pink #purple #selflove #acrylic #painting #relationship #summer #angel #reclining #lovers

October was incredible, I’m just resting now after a full month of Art! Between the rain and the quiet arrival of autumn, Paris Art week felt alive with a creativity— the kind that reminds us why we do what we do. October marked my first participation in @154artfair , and it was a powerful experience. The energy across galleries and institutions was palpable, and being surrounded by such extraordinary talent — friends, peers, and mentors — was a reminder of how transformative our creative ecosystems can be. These Art Weeks is about seeing, learning, and expanding together. I also experienced my first @artbasel Paris, and it did not disappoint. Paris had its own rhythm — slower, more sensual but featured some incredible exhibition. A huge highlight was attending talks with Sonia Boyce RA @soniaboyceartist and Yinka Shonibare CBE RA @yinkashonibarestudio coordinated by Edward Enninful at the Petit Palais. Both artists continue to shape contemporary art with such force and generosity. It was a privilege to be in the company of icons and truly inspiring for a emerging artist. Witnessing such mastery, experimentation, and conviction reinvigorated my passion for creativity. Paris, is truly for lovers🤍✨ #art #paris #artfair #artweek #artbasel #london #october

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who came to see our booth at 1-54 African Art Fair @154artfair . When I tell you how overwhelmed I was by the kindness, love, and encouragement I received from everyone I encountered — it truly moved me. Experiencing that level of support during my first art fair was beautiful and deeply affirming, and it will remain one of the most meaningful memories of my artistic journey. A huge thank you to Sosa @sosamimosa and The 1897 Gallery @_the1897 for believing in my work and for the opportunity to exhibit alongside two phenomenally talented artists, Ayoola Gbolahan @ayoolaart and Yanma Fofana @yanma_f It’s been such a joy to grow together and to share this moment with you. Feeling beyond grateful ❤️. #art #154artfair #artfair #london #londonart #privateview #artcollector #artgallery #artist #colours #womenartist #journey #exhibitionstand

Installation Views | The 1897 Gallery at 1-54 London Today is the last day to view our booth at this edition of @154artfair ✨ A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has stopped by over the past few days — it’s been such a joy sharing these powerful works and conversations with you. On view are works by Ayoola Gbolahan, Roisin Jones, and Yanma Fofana, each exploring memory, intimacy, and identity through distinct yet interconnected lenses. 📸: @gilliesadamsonsemple 📍 Booth W8 Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA 🕓 Final Day: Sunday, 19 October | 11AM – 6PM #154London #The1897Gallery #AyoolaGbolahan #RoisinJones #YanmaFofana #AfricanArt #ContemporaryArt #LondonArtFair #BlackArt #ArtCollectors