Check In
July and August are quieter months in our calendar. Although somehow in July we still managed to fit in twenty events and two exhibition openings, go Firepit. We had a little write up in the Evening Standard for our wonderful Firepit Tales. The rich tapestry of the opening of Queer Migrations, curated by Bold Mellons, Amy-Rose Edlyn, Emilia Nurmukhamet and Annie Dearnley. Ravensbourne MA Illustration and Design Communications students held their MA show.

August, please note, the gallery is closed from the 11th August, re-opening on the 26th. There will be artists around working from the gallery, but we are closed to the public in this time. It is our Summer Reset.

We will be exhibiting at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea this October, which is fantastic. More news on that as we get it.

I also want to put in a note about how sorry we are to see NOW Gallery closing at the end of August. Things move so quickly around here, change is something we have learned to embrace. We wish everyone the best of luck and know whatever it is they do next will be epic.

Artist Call Outs

We have two! The F Word and Unveiled

THE F WORD - Main Gallery approx 3 month Duration
We are inviting submissions from artists who are exploring the depth, diversity, and power of what it means to be a woman and a creative voice in the world today. How do you engage with femininity as a concept, and what does it mean to you?

This exhibition aims to uplift and highlight the work of artists who are often underrepresented in the arts. We welcome creatives working in all mediums - including painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, performance, installation, and more.

What We're Looking For:

• Work that explores themes of identity, gender, empowerment, community, or personal narrative

• Submissions from women, trans, and non-binary artists

• Emerging and mid-career artists

Here is the submission link

Unveiled: Stories Behind the Silence - Red Room 3 week Duration
Some stories live in silence — hidden from others, and sometimes even from ourselves. Unveiled: Stories Behind the Silence brings these untold experiences into the light, offering space for what was once buried to be seen, felt, and understood.

It honours survivors of domestic violence — their pain, their strength, and the quiet courage it takes to reclaim their voices. Unveiled invites us to look deeper: to witness the strength in vulnerability, the power of being seen, and the profound humanity of those learning to heal.

The exhibition is designed to guide visitors through the full emotional spectrum that survivors may experience on their path to recovery — beginning with difficult emotions and gradually moving toward empowerment and desire to live a new life fully again.

This project also aims to raise funds for Solace, a London-based charity that supports over 30,000 women and children each year in building lives free from abuse.

Here is the submissions link

Events in AUGUST

Exhibitions

Running through August, ROUTIN3S Exhibition. Free Entry in Gallery Hours.

Running Until August 9th : Queer Migrations Exhibition, Bold Melon. Free Entry in Gallery Hours

Workshops / Events

AUG 5: Cara Meditation Group Free

AUG 8: Peninsula Games Night (Resident sign up) (Free)

AUG 9: Argentinian Wine Masterclass / Optional Argentinian Food

AUG 11 - AUG 25: Gallery Closed for Summer Reset

AUG 12: BEYOND KUNDALINI: A MULTIFREQUENCY ENERGY TRANSMISSION with Lucie

Aug 21: Peninsula Games Night (Resident sign up) (Free)

Aug 26: Sound Bath with Cara 

Aug 27: ROUTIN3S Artist led kids Workshop, ‘Little Disruptions’ - CURTIS Donavan

Aug 28: Life Drawing Sip and Draw Social

Also on 25th September we have our September Social. This is a celebration of everything Firepit. Including performance, live music, studio clear-outs and much, much more… please reserve your ticket

Artist Spotlight

Mia Hawk

A portrait of actor Kayi Ushe. Kayi played the lead (Lola) in the UK tour of Kinky Boots, the musical. I met with Kayi and followed him back stage during one of this shows, witnessing the 2h transformation it took for him to turn into a Drag Queen, surrounded by his make up artist and dresser. As well as the physical transformation, he also starts his vocal warm up during this time. Many elements goes into his daily pre show routine, all to support his exceptional performance.

More Details and Link to Purchase

ROUTIN3S
Our fantastic exhibition continues until September 20th. Starting at the end of August and into September, we have eight artist led workshops and a panel talk with some of the exhibiting artists. .
These are the dates, we are just confirming the details, as they become available our full list of events can always be found here

27th August: Kids Workshop (Little Disruptions) with Curtis Donavan
6th September: Workshops with Routines Artists. Nicola, Pragya, Nelly & Shahina
12th September: Conversations Around the Table 
13th September: Workshops with Routines Artists. Sergio, Andrea, Maddie & Armando

The Lucy Hunter Section
Lucy is interning at Firepit, it is her last week ☹️ we are going to miss her. Thanks for bringing so much joy with you.

Intern Spotlight 

My name is Lucy Hunter, and I have been interning with Firepit since late June. I am a Finance major from the University of Florida, and these are the top five things I’ve learned during my time at Firepit:

5. “We should meet up next week” means “We definitely should not meet up next week.” 

4. Navigating and being comfortable on the Tube during work rush hour is easy if you’re selfish and evil (I always got a seat).

3. Internships may include crocheting a bikini for a rubber duck (don’t get your hopes up; I got lucky with this one).

2. Perfected the skill of explaining an exhibition to visitors by pretending I understand the art and hoping no one asks any more questions. 

1. Tesco meal deals are life-changing. 

In all seriousness, the things on this list taught me about culture, communication, relationships, and even more about myself as a person. If you get a chance to be a part of the Firepit community, even just for six weeks, take it and drive it like you stole it.

Inside the Mind of Akin: Questions That Would Break a Magic 8-Ball

Akin is known for his art, but behind the scenes, he’s a full-time goof. 

Bio-Snapshot

Name: Akin Okusami 

Profession: Artist 

Current project: Commissioned piece/gift 

Fun fact: Can burp on command

Interview

Q: If you could only eat one color for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: I would eat Red because it’s always ripe and you know it’s fleshy.

Q:  If your art came to life, do you think you would beat it in a fight?

A: Yeah, of course. I’m their god; I’m their creator. I don’t even have to worry about physically touching them; I’ll just unimagine them out of existence. Physically, it’s not even a contest: I could distort them; I could rip them like a voodoo doll. 

Q: If you could merge two animals to create a new one, which combo would you choose and why?

A: I would merge a lion and an eagle, and I would name it an Akin. It would have eagle eyes, brow, beak, and wings, but a lion’s roar, mouth, teeth, majestic mane, limbs, claws, and a lion’s tail. But the tail would be fanned out like an eagle so that it can fly, and its claws would have black talons

Closing Thoughts 

If you're looking for someone to learn from, have a light-hearted laugh, or dive into a spontaneous philosophical rabbit hole, look no further than Akin. Whether you're exploring big ideas or just need a good laugh, Akin is the kind of person who brings wisdom, warmth, and curiosity to every interaction. One minute you’ll be talking about the meaning of life, the next you'll be debating whether cereal is technically a soup. Either way, you’ll leave the conversation a little wiser - and probably laughing.

Gallery Opening Hours are:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10am - 5pm
Wednesday: 10am - 5pm
Thursday: 12pm - 7pm
Friday : 10am - 5pm
Saturday: 11am - 5pm
Sunday: Closed

How to get here:
The nearest tube is North Greenwich on the Jubilee line. We are a 5 minute walk from here, located right by the Thames Clipper stop. We are on google maps. Search for Firepit Art Gallery, London

We also have directions on our instagram page: Firepit Instagram Page

All Firepit links and info can be found here: Firepit Linktree

Our Website: firepit.art

We are a Community Interest Company (CIC) & we run as a not-for-profit. In our space we have a beautiful art gallery and artists studios. We run many workshops and events, for both our local community and the general public.

As a CIC, we are committed to reinvesting our profits back into the community, ensuring sustainable and lasting impact. Join us in building a healthier, more vibrant neighbourhood, where the power of creativity becomes a catalyst for positive transformation and well-being for all.