Early-career retrospective of London artist to be held in Oxford

Fusion Arts will present ‘Frontline’, an exhibition of work by interdisciplinary artist Ryan Hawaii, during June and July.

The exhibition will feature work from the past decade, including textiles, fashion, music, sketchbooks, and paintings.

It will be open to the public from June 14 to July 5, from 10am to 6pm, Wednesday to Sunday, with Monday and Tuesday viewings available by appointment only.

A private viewing will take place on Saturday, June 14, from 6pm to 10pm.

Curated by Ruby Duncan, in collaboration with spatial designer Stanley Leung, the exhibition will explore the “ever-expanding universe” of Mr Hawaii’s work.

Mr Hawaii is known for fusing Afro-Cuban, Jamaican, and British influences in his work, which navigates themes of spirituality, modernity, identity, and place.

Ms Duncan said: “Lines cross sculpture, sketchbooks, paintings, and textile successes.

“His work acts as testament to the ability of the artist to influence, record, and process the world around him.

“Hawaii steps beyond lines as confines and finds ways to construct new explorations of modern life, spirituality, culture, and borders.

“To him the line is not a limiting facet but a chance to construct connections between fashion, innovation, music, and art.

“To find harmony in his Jamaican, British and Afro-Cuban history through stepping across their dividing lines.”

She continued: “‘Frontline’ refers to a centre point for congregating in a city zone; each of London’s neighbourhoods claims one; often the site of gang activities.

“Hawaii’s Catford frontline – outside the Broadway Theatre – has witnessed much drama and tragedy forged by the urban environment.

“This exhibition brings recollections of this frontline to Oxford in an attempt to further cross the lines and boundaries set on the cultures that permeate throughout Ryan Hawaii’s works.”

The exhibition will highlight Mr Hawaii’s influence on the British and European art scenes.

Frontline marks Ms Duncan’s second curatorial project at Fusion Arts, an arts and social justice charity based in East Oxford.

It aims to use creativity to tackle social inequality and inspire positive change.

Since 1977, Fusion has connected artists with communities, empowering people to express themselves through collaborative, arts-led projects.

Working across Oxfordshire and beyond, it partners with a wide network of local, national, and international organisations, artists, and community groups.

It also commissions and produces public artworks that have been co-created with the community such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund project in Berinsfield.

Fusion supports artists by providing exhibition opportunities in pop-up spaces across Oxford and offering affordable studio spaces for creative development.