AWARD-WINNING ADECHE ATELIER LAUNCH IMMERSIVE LONDON EXHIBITION SHAPED FROM EARTH – 12TH FEB
Adeche Atelier presents Shaped From Earth, a contemporary exhibition of original acrylic and oil paintings exploring African cultural forms through mythology, ritual, and visual storytelling. Opening with an immersive Private View on 12th February 2026 (6PM to 9PM), the exhibition will run until 20th March 2026 at Art Works East, London.
Created by multi-award-winning creative couple Adwoa Botchey and Solomon Adebiyi, Shaped From Earth brings together African folklore, spiritual systems, and cultural expression through contemporary fine art. Rooted in research and narrative, the exhibition traces how communities across the African continent have historically used image, ritual, and material culture to shape understandings of the body, the spirit, and the world.
Across a series of richly layered works, Shaped From Earth unfolds through four interwoven themes, each examining a different way of making the human and the sacred.
What audiences will experience:
- Traditional African hairstyles are presented as living archives of identity, craftsmanship, and social history.
- African masks and masquerades are explored as dynamic art forms tied to spirit, performance, and communal memory.
- Folktales and folk figures carry moral, social, and spiritual knowledge.
- African deities are depicted as complex representations of power, nature, and human experience.
Together, these works invite audiences to view African mythology not as myth in the reductive sense, but as sophisticated knowledge systems preserved through story, embodied through ritual, and reimagined through contemporary art today.
The Private View on 12 February from 6PM to 9PM promises an immersive and experiential celebration of culture and creativity, welcoming audiences into Adeche Atelier’s richly imagined visual world.
In addition to the main exhibition, the programme includes:
- Sip and Paint with Adeche Atelier on 20 February 2026.
- A closing event with an artist panel and Q and A on 20 March 2026.
ABOUT ADECHE ATELIER:
Adeche Atelier is the collaborative practice of Adwoa Botchey and Solomon Adebiyi, celebrated storytellers, artists, and content creators redefining how African mythology, folklore, and spirituality are represented in contemporary art and media.
Winners of the ITV bCreator Award for Canon Best Original Content Creator and recipients of the All Things Africa Cultural Vanguard Award, the duo are known for championing overlooked narratives and advancing cultural literacy. Their distinctive practice of painting every piece simultaneously reflects their belief in interconnected storytelling and collective memory.
With a combined audience of over half a million followers across digital platforms, Adeche Atelier has become a leading voice in the global resurgence of African mythology. Their work has been commissioned by major institutions including The National Gallery, London, BBC Arts, the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, and EA Games in collaboration with Black Girl Gamers.
They have also created digital content for the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and the Hayward Gallery in London, helping to engage broader and more diverse audiences within major cultural spaces.
The duo met as architecture students at the Manchester School of Architecture, where a shared love of storytelling evolved into a creative movement spanning canvas, podcasting, and digital media. Their podcast, Afro Mythos, explores the deities, stories, and spiritual systems of pre-colonial Africa, offering an accessible entry point into these traditions.
Through Shaped From Earth, Adwoa and Solomon invite audiences of all backgrounds to reconnect with Africa’s deep cultural histories and reimagine its past, present, and future with pride.
ABOUT ARTWORKS EAST:
ArtWorks East is a newly established gallery, co-working space, and creative hub based in Leyton, East London. The space is dedicated to showcasing emerging and underrepresented artists across a wide range of disciplines, with a strong focus on cultural heritage, social commentary, and community-led practice. Since opening in May 2025, ArtWorks East has hosted over 50 exhibitions, workshops, and live events, welcoming more than 4,000 visitors and showcasing the work of over 200 artists. Known for its immersive, experiential programming and community-focused ethos, ArtWorks East collaborates closely with artists to create distinctive and meaningful creative experiences. The team is delighted to host Adeche Atelier and to be working collaboratively on an ambitious programme of exciting activations throughout the exhibition.
