LONDON.- ARTNOIR, Sotheby’s, and SR_A announce the inaugural cohort of London grantees for the 2024 Jar of Love Fund & Black British Artist Grants Programme. This marks the next phase of an exciting international collaboration, bringing vital support, mentorship, and career development to artists, designers, curators, and cultural producers of color in the UK.

Expanding its impact beyond the U.S., ARTNOIR's Jar of Love Fund has partnered with Sotheby’s and Dr. Samuel Ross MBE’s Black British Artist Grants Programme by SR_A to advance the work of Black British and POC creatives. Together, these organizations aim to foster long-term change and increase visibility for diverse voices across the arts, design, and fashion sectors through talent recognition, resources, and collaborative opportunities.

Dr. Samuel Ross, founder of SR_A, shared, “ We’re honored to partner with ARTNOIR and Sothebys for our 6th edition of the Black British Artist Grants programme. A programme that remains astutely independent. We continue to deeply believe in the talent, intellect, expertise and resonance of the contributions made by the African diaspora to the creative industry and economy. In particular the liberal arts, industrial design, and fashion. It remains our priority and long-term strategy to further establish independent and cooperative talent pipelines that bridge our diaspora's most exceptional thinkers to globally recognised academic bodies, leading institutions and commercial entities. We look forward to furthering the programme, furthering synergies, and shared experience between the UK and USA.”

The following six exceptional talents have been selected across diverse disciplines, each bringing unique contributions to their respective fields:

● Khalid Wildman – Khalid Wildman is a London-based artist and curator, founder of January Tamarind, a gallery concept focused on untold narratives. His interdisciplinary work blends photography, text, sound, and found materials to reimagine archives and explore identity, memory, and spatial connections.

● Tejumola Adenuga – Tejumola Adenuga creates intricate ink drawings using found photography to craft visual stories and has recently transitioned to making furniture inspired by West African fictional mythology, envisioning an African utopia free from external influence. He has collaborated with major international brands like Crocs, Adidas, and Uber, and has been featured in outlets such as The New Yorker, Atlantic Magazine, and Elle Decoration, while living between Lagos and London.

● Amber Pinkerton – Amber Pinkerton, a Jamaican-born artist based in London, explores identity politics, focusing on Jamaica and its diaspora, with work that delves into feminist autotheory and post-colonial themes. Her recent series, "Self Dialogues," explores migration, love, family, and cultural memory through photography, self-portraiture, and immersive media, while her accolades include Forbes 30 Under 30 and The New York Times' "15 Creative Women for Our Time."

● Phoebe Collings-James – Phoebe Collings-James' work explores themes of emotional detritus, violence, language, and desire, using sculpture, sound, performance, and installation to bring tension to ceramic forms. They also run Mudbelly Teaches, offering free ceramics courses for Black people in London, and are a member of Black Obsidian Sound System (B.O.S.S.), a ǪTIBIPOC sound system collective.

● Eastwood Danso – Eastwood Danso is a contemporary brand grounded in heritage, expressed through ready-to-wear, accessories, and objects. Inspired by Nkrumaism and contemporary culture, the label incorporates imagery from Eastwood’s family archives to create a deeply personal vision.

● Bafic –Bafic is a London-based director and artist whose recent documentary, SUB ELEVEN SECONDS, profiles athlete Sha’Carri Richardson's pursuit of qualifying for the Olympics, executive produced by Virgil Abloh and premiered at Sundance 2022. His work has been commissioned by brands like Louis Vuitton, Off-White™, and Gucci, and his commercial SKATE NATION GHANA won the Grand Prix at the 2021 Ciclope Festival. These London-based grantees will receive unrestricted grants of $5,000 USD and benefit from professional development, mentorship, and fellowship opportunities. These programs will strengthen connections within the broader arts and culture community, ensuring the artists have the support needed to advance their careers and creative visions.

Catherine Almonte, Sotheby’s Global Head of Equity and Impact, commented: “Sotheby’s is honored to champion the pioneering work of the inaugural 2024 London grantees of the Jar of Love Fund and Black British Artist Grants Programme. This remarkable cohort of artists and cultural leaders contributes profoundly to the UK’s creative landscape. Our collaboration with ARTNOIR and SR_A not only amplifies these voices but also fortifies a more inclusive and dynamic future for the fields of art, design, and fashion.”

In addition to the London cohort, ARTNOIR and Sotheby’s recently announced the grantees of the 2024 Jar of Love Fund for New York. This year’s esteemed New York cohort features six exceptional artists, designers, writers, and cultural producers: Daria Harper, Zalika Akim, Dominique Petit-Frere, Danielle Berger, Sami Hopkins, and Emmanuel Massillon.

Carolyn ‘CC’ Concepcion, ARTNOIR Co-Founder, also shared, “We are thrilled to expand the Jar of Love Fund to London with SR_A and Sotheby’s as partners, highlighting the incredible talent present within London’s Black and POC creative communities. This cohort embodies a bold vision for the future of art and culture, and we’re honored to be part of their journey.”


Work by Amber Pinkerton.

“Through this endeavor, we remain committed to amplifying minority perspectives, empowering the next generation of artists with the autonomy to their craft and economic viability to scale their entities, independently. This is underscored by our long term ambition of removing structural barriers in the British creative sector” says Co-Founder of SR_A, Yi Ng.

Founded by ARTNOIR in 2020, the Jar of Love Fund is an unrestricted microgrant program created to alleviate financial burdens and encourage artistic growth for emerging and mid-career artists of color. Initially launched in response to the pandemic, the fund has distributed over $100,000 USD, becoming a vital resource for creatives. Now in its second year of partnership with Sotheby’s & SR_A, the 2024 Jar of Love Fund continues to expand, awarding grants in New York and London.

SR_A has been instrumental in supporting Black British creatives, providing not only financial assistance but also resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy. Their past grantees, such as Aaron Kudi—whose work has been showcased in international exhibitions like Frieze London and the Louis Vuitton Foundation—highlight SR_A’s commitment to elevating Black British talent. Through their support, artists are able to make meaningful contributions to the global creative economy.