Kwaga Sillingi
Colour Without End
A poetic nod to the infinity of circles and the unending variation of palette.
Sadie Sherman Gallery is delighted to launch its inaugural exhibition with a solo presentation by London-based artist Kwaga Sillingi, showcasing her dynamic large-scale works on paper.
A resident artist at ActionSpace (Studio Voltaire) since 2018, Kwaga has steadily developed a unique visual language centred around repetition, layering, and bold colour.
Kwaga works with acrylic paint and paper collage, beginning each piece by arranging pre-painted paper circles into ordered patterns. She then applies successive layers of paint in sweeping, expressive gestures. The circular forms—central to her practice—are gradually obscured, leaving only subtle impressions beneath the surface. The result is richly textured, multifaceted compositions that merge structure and spontaneity.
Often working across four paintings at a time, Kwaga’s method is both systematic and intuitive. Her colour choices are bold and unexpected, creating emotional resonance and visual tension. Over time, her compositions have evolved from tightly gridded formations to more fluid, diagonal arrangements, marked by thick loops and gestural brushwork.
These works on paper offer a sensory and contemplative experience. They invite viewers to look closely and engage in layers: to first absorb their visceral energy, then seek patterns, and finally reflect on the deeper, symbolic presence of repetition and transformation. The recurring circular motif acts as a quiet but persistent thread—evoking unity, rhythm, and connection.
Kwaga’s paintings are not only a reflection of her distinctive practice but of an artistic voice that is bold, evolving, and deeply attuned to material and process. Her works feel at once personal and universal—ritualistic explorations of form, colour, and memory.
About the artist
Portrait of Kwaga Sillingi in her studio.
Kwaga Sillingi, born in 1991, lives and Works in London. Kwaga is a painter who combines paper collages and acrylic to create bold, large-scale paintings. Her works have been included in a range of exhibitions, including Open House at Studio Voltaire (2021–2024), Vital Mix at Wandsworth Arts Fringe (2024), x3 Ritual Patterns (online, 2021), ArtWorks Together (2021), and Where The Heart Is at Cockpit Arts Summer Open Studios (2019).
The exhibition runs at TAFETA with Sadie Sherman Gallery, 83 Charlotte Street, London W1T 4PR, from 15 May, alongside Making Money II by Babajide Olatunji.
Private view: 15th May 6 - 8pm.
Quiet Viewing: 16th May 6 - 8pm