Rawz

I had a great time at the @wepresent spring show opening at @copelandparkse on Thursday evening. Thanks to @thesupportingactfoundation for the opportunity to attend. Some really inspiring work on show, good stories and good people. I’d recommend checking out some of the talks and events over the weekend if you’re in the area. Large up @soulfueleatery for the fuel that got me back home. @kadeenbrown._ @annum.anwar @gehoez @vickygrout @kash122___ @g3negraphy @__babyjeans @graciefromtheblock

As part of the @rethinkingrelationships project - a collaboration between the @museumethnographersgroup and four major world cultures museums: @pittriversmuseum , @hornimanmuseumgardens , @worldmuseum_ , and @maacambridge - I was invited to conduct research with objects from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and respond through art. With the help of the project manager I identified a list of 10 objects that I felt drawn to. I wanted to somehow connect with the people that put their energy, and moments of their life into making them. I spent two days sitting with these objects that had travelled thousands of miles to end up in glass cases in Oxford, or sometimes even just in storage and not on display at all. Some have been here for over a century. I held them. Sat with them. Looked at them closely. Photographed them. Breathed them in. We shared time and space. I tried to answer the questions they raised. From this process I made six digital collages. Bar Cloth. Waved. Protection. Appropriation. Three Lions. Herstory Repeats. Some are about playing with patterns, textures and colours. Others come from less fun feelings. You can read my full report on the process and see more of the photos I took as part of my research on the Digging Crates section of my website - link in my bio. I’d love to know what you think. I’ll be giving a short talk on the experience at the annual Museum Ethnographers Group Conference in April, I hope to see you there! #PittRiversMuseum #RethinkingRelationships #DiggingCrates #DigitalCollage #DecoloniseMuseums

Something new (and very exciting) has arrived in our Top Gallery ✨ We’re delighted to share a brand new artwork, We Are, by Oxford-based multidisciplinary artist @rawzcreates is now on display in the museum. The seeds for this piece were planted when Rawz visited the History of Science Museum with his children and saw a painting called Chardin and Boy on display. This new artwork, We Are, is a response to that painting, celebrating what’s possible when we take people out of their frames and bring the past into conversation with the present. Come and experience it in the peaceful environment of our Top Gallery. We can’t wait to hear what you think. #OxfordArt #MultidisciplinaryArtist #ArtInspiration #ArtAndHistory

For artist @rawzcreates , “this support allows me to evolve beyond the constant cycle of short-term commissions, connect with my roots, and invest in my future.” His work focuses on challenging injustice and highlighting interconnectivity, and we’re thrilled to introduce him as one of our new grantees. Growing up in one of England’s most underserved estates, he found his creative voice through hip hop, using lyricism to process his thoughts and experiences. He communicates ideas through poetry, sound, sculpture, music and more, often exploring memory, resilience, and the stories held within place and people.

More good news to share… 🏆✨ Forgotten Stories Of Oxford has won an international award! I’m delighted to share that I’ve been awarded the annual Sound Walks September Prize from @walklistencreate — and the plaque just arrived yesterday 😎 Among tough competition from all over the world, Forgotten Stories Of Oxford came through on top, with generous praise from the international jury: “Stunning poetry and sound design unveiling lesser known stories. Truly enjoyed listening and watching.” “The everyday and anecdotal take precedence here and are just as fascinating and stimulating as what the media presents us with.” “Well researched and documented, each point brings to life a character, a moment and/or a place.” “Beautiful voice and pace of narration.” They know how to make a boy blush 😅 Huge thanks to everyone who has supported this project in so many ways — I wish I could tag you all 💛
@artsattheofs @torchoxford @inspiresounds_uk @dropallwords @samuel_mansell to name just a few. 👣 You can explore Forgotten Stories Of Oxford for free on my website (link in bio), or book a bespoke in-person walking tour for yourself and a small group — just drop me a DM or use the contact form on my site. Big up @fyreflystudios for the photos from an in-person tour delivered for @oxfordprestrust last year. 👉🏾 Swipe to see my shiny plaque 😁 #ForgottenStoriesOfOxford #SoundWalk #SoundWalksSeptember #AwardWinning #SpokenWord #PoetryWalk #AudioWalk #CulturalHeritage #HiddenHistories #LocalHistory #OxfordUK #OxfordCulture #ArtsAndCulture #CreativeAudio #SoundArt #Storytelling #IndependentArtist #UKArtist #WalkingTour #PlaceBasedArt

Since October I’ve been hoping that this would be my first post of the year. I’m so happy to announce that I’m one @thesupportingactfoundation ’s supported artists for 2026! 🎉✨😎 It’s a very competitive selection process with 100s of applications coming in from Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the UK, so being one of the final 10 selected is a great honour, and a relief to see the work I put into my application paid off! Being a full time artist is a hard, precarious way to make a living. A lot of time is spent throwing your hat into the ring and hoping your ideas resonate. Mostly you find out someone else’s resonated more. In fact, I found out this morning that I was unsuccessful in a call I was really hoping for. You pick yourself up and try again… and again. BIG UP all the artists putting themselves on the line to help us see the world in a different way. We need you ✊🏾 The knock backs make it important to celebrate the wins, so that’s what I’m doing today! 🙏🏾 This grant is a special one because it’s not attached to outcomes, objectives and products, it’s based on the trust that I’ll contribute to the world around me by developing and sharing my own understanding of this ever unwinding miracle we call life. I’m looking forward to what this grant will enable me to do. I’ve already got plenty of ideas… 👀💡 Organisations like @wetransfer depend so much on creativity, so it’s admirable that they recognise they need to support the arts, I hope more companies follow. Check out the other supported artists and organisations. I’m looking forward to meeting them soon, and perhaps getting some collaborations underway! 🤝✨
 @90mil___   @zofi_asso @cue_org @exisdancecompany @inform_pim @instituteforpostnaturalstudies @musikarama @akidinlondon @buisir @azraamotala @caro.riano.music @mastaquba @jaeho111111 @mokeyanju @choco_no_end @ispeakofrafik @oyounberlin @tarkib_baghdad @tawna_cine #ArtistGrant #CreativeSupport #SupportingArtists #IndependentArtist #UKArtist #EuropeanArtist #ArtsCommunity #TrustInArtists #CreativeFreedom #ArtsAndCulture #ResilientCreatives #ArtAsWork #CelebratingWins

Forgotten Stories of Oxford just got an upgrade! I’ve been working behind the scenes to bring a new dimension to the online experience - and it’s finally ready to share with you all.  The enhanced version of the tour now includes: 🎥 New bespoke videos showing every location from unseen angles. 🎤 Interviews where I share the background and inspiration behind each poem. 📸 New images and links for those who want to dig deeper into the stories and do their own detective work. If you’ve done any part of the tour before, now’s the perfect time to revisit. If you’ve never tried it, this is your moment!  Whether you’re in Oxford or on the other side of the world, you can explore these stories FREE online, on location, or through Google Earth. This project is about the people and places that often go unseen beneath Oxford’s iconic skyline - the lives that built, shaped, and continue to define the city beyond the dreaming spires. 🌐 You can: 🗺️ Find a free map at shops and venues across Oxford 💻 Get stuck in to the online version with updated digital maps and new content at RawzCreates.com/ForgottenStories  (link in bio) 🖼️ Book a bespoke group tour with me as your guide - I’ll perform the poems on location and we can chat about some of the inspiration behind them. It feels amazing to finally see this project in the form I originally intended - I hope you’ll take a moment to explore, hopefully you’ll find something new and maybe see the city a little differently afterwards.  Let me know how you get on! Special thanks to: @artsattheofs , @torchoxford , @oxfordprestrust , @inspiresounds_uk , @dropallwords , @samuel_mansell and the Cultural Programme for their support and contributions to making this project possible.  #ForgottenStoriesOfOxford #SpokenWord #OxfordHistory #HiddenOxford #Rawz #PoetryTour #CommunityHistory #CreativeTourism #Storytelling #CityOfDreamingSpires #PoeticJustice #CulturalHeritage #ArtAndPlace #WalkingTour #VisitOxford #ArtActivism #LocalStories #PoetryOfPlace #BritishPoetry #ExploreOxford

This short film, created and directed by @rawz_official , responds to the history and life of The Messiah Violin. Here, artist Rawz questions the use of the violin as a silent collector’s piece, played only a handful of times in its almost 300-year lifespan. Rawz performs the poem alongside cellist Lou Lyne and violinist Natalie @sheiscallednv who co-composed a string accompaniment based on Vivaldi’s Concerto in A Minor. The strings almost “sample” Vivaldi’s classic work, providing a dramatic and compelling backing to Rawz’ words in tune with the Hip Hop sensibilities of his Digging Crates project, the wider exploration that this piece forms a part of. Find the full film on our YouTube channel – link in our bio. Camera: Samuel Mansell Sound: @inspiresounds_uk #DiggingCreates

🐝 I’m excited to be one of the selected artists for @writingourlegacy Species Stories in partnership with South Downs National Park Authority @southdownsnp ! It makes me proud to see my name listed alongside these talented people: @dulani.kulasinghe   @jess_murrain   @joyfuljomad   @marvacartyauthor   @pomelolo   @SenseTurner @walksofwisdomsussex   @tamaraloisansah 🦋 For this commission, I’ll produce a new spoken word piece in response to the Pearl Bordered Fritillary butterfly, and then a digital version of the work. Since receiving the news I’ll be writing about this little beauty I can’t stop spotting butterflies! I haven’t been lucky enough to catch sight of one of my pearl bordered muses yet but I have been doing plenty of online stalking so if you ever want to know about this amazing creature’s life cycle just ask ya boy! ✨ The outputs will be used this autumn to inspire children in schools across and around the South Downs to try creative writing as part of a writing competition which is a real honour.  I’m looking forward to showing you what my colleagues and I create! #SpeciesStories #CreativeCommission #BPOCWriters #diverse #BPOC #writing #commission #nature #species #Sussex #SouthDownsNationalPark #ButterflyConservation #PearlBorderedFritillary #NatureWriting #WildlifePoetry #SpokenWordArt #EcoPoetry #CreativeNature #BiodiversityMatters #PoetryOfNature #InspiringYoungWriters #OutdoorLearning #NatureInspiredArt #WritersOfInstagram #NatureAndCulture

What do you think of this mural I created at @artsattheofs ? It’s one of the biggest pieces I’ve ever done on my own and I’m pretty pleased with how it came out. It was inspired by a poem I wrote called “Art Starts A Story”, the poem is about the winding, confusing, beautiful paths our lives take, and the art that can be found in our shared stories - how art helps us share our stories, how our stories inspire others, and become part of their stories. It was commissioned by the Old Fire Station in 2024 as part of #marmaladefestival and they liked it so much they asked me to put it on the wall for this year’s festival. Symbolising the journey described in the poem, the words weave between abstract shapes that fit perfectly together to form a whole, resembling the many-sided lives, personalities and stories that form a community. It transforms what was just a plain white corridor between the theatre and the toilet into what someone described to me as “a psychedelic experience”… love that 😎 Have you got a space you’d like me to switch up the flow of? I could even write a poem for you - if that sounds interesting drop me a message and let’s see what we can work out. Keep swiping to hear the poem and see a time-lapse of the piece coming together. More on my website - link in my bio. #PublicArt #MuralArt #OxfordArt #ArtFestival #CreativeCommunity #SpokenWordArt #PoetryAndArt #ArtStartsAStory #VisualPoetry #AbstractArt #StoryThroughArt #ArtCommission #ArtistForHire #CommunityArt #PsychedelicArt #ArtisticJourney #UrbanArt #WallArtDesign #ArtForSpaces #ArtCollectors #OxfordEvents #MuralsDaily #ArtProcess #SupportArtists

Back in early June I was privileged to share a stage with the insanely talented @samuelboateng_music , @eve_boulos_music and the Adepa Ensemble (@jamiecastellmusic , @matt_the_bassman , @drum_dee_1 ) at @stjohnsox as part of the Jazz at St John’s series. I haven’t had many opportunities to play with a live band, but any time I do it’s 🔥! Something about how everyone is responding to each others groove, the slight shifts in tempo and rhythm, and the knowledge that it could all go wrong at any second, but it won’t, cos we’ve got this. The freedom to improvise and adapt is also a great feeling, and this performance in particular taught me something about shifting gears between spoken word and rap. I can’t wait to do it again! It was also nice to cross paths with the incredible @johnfalsetto again, his beautiful performance with the band gave me goosebumps as I peeked through the curtains at the side of the stage, hoping the audience couldn’t see me 😎 It perfectly energised me to play my part shortly afterwards. I’m so happy to be able to share this with you alongside these stunning photos from @fyreflystudios - never underestimate the importance of a good photographer! They can make an average event look great, and preserve a great event like this one for the ages! Thanks to everyone who came out, it wouldn’t have been the same without the audience, special shout out to @debbie.o.caricatures for the caricature penned during my performance, it’s going on my wall 😁👌🏾 #LiveMusic #JazzAndPoetry #SpokenWordPerformance #OxfordEvents #UKMusicScene #MusicCollaboration #LiveBandEnergy #ImprovisedArt #RapAndJazz #Wordsmith #StageVibes #PerformancePoetry #JazzFusion #ArtisticExpression #MusiciansOfInstagram #CreativeSynergy #PoetryInMotion #LyricistLife #DocumentTheVibe #BlackBritishArtists #AfricanArtists #AfricanJazz

Back in March I was honoured to be second on the mic as part of the first ever Hip Hop cypher in the 202 year history of @theoxfordunion , standing on the same floorboards that James Baldwin, Malcolm X, Angela Davis, and many others did before us… time’s a trip! The panel discussion could be described as royal, but with less criminals involved 😂 Man like,
 @rapnoir @emceeserch @dizzeerascal @djbonds007 @djyodauk 
 had a great convo with @montana.butsch at the helm. It was inspiring to be in the presence of people who have touched so many people with their craft and contributed massively to Hip Hop culture - a movement that changed my life in so many ways. The full videos of the panel and cypher are now available on the Oxford Union’s YouTube channel so go check it out and leave a comment so they know we need more events like this in future. Big up the crew inside and keep them peepers peeled for more! 👀❤️🙌🏾

@Shady_xt @Evolucian @King_Boyden @inspiresounds_uk @samuel_mansell @diorhoneyblades @innerpeacerecords @mic_drop_challenge @spotivity @micro_grant @flypaper.media #HipHopCulture #OxfordUnion #UKHipHop #CypherSession #RapLegacy #SpokenWordArtists #MicrophoneCheck #HipHopHistory #RapPanel #CulturalImpact #LyricistsUnite #UKMusicScene #BlackBritishCulture #ArtAndActivism #WordplayMatters #IndependentArtists #LiveCypher #CreativeCommunity #BarsAndBeats #RespectTheCraft #ArtisticExpression #VoicesOfThePeople #PlatformForChange #MusicAsResistance #PoetryInMotion #BridgeBuilders