RIOT SOUP is a London-based grassroots collective of Black and Brown women artists. The collective aims to address racism and inequality in the arts by opening up discussions about issues affecting people “of colour”, women, and artists.
Founder Asma Istwani (@asmaeatsart), a woman artist of colour, initiated the collective in response to her own search for creative groups that represented individuals like her and could provide a platform where her work would be truly valued and visible without conforming to a predetermined mould.
The collective’s commitment to addressing racism and inequality in the arts is reflected in a series of impactful exhibitions, workshops and events they have put together. Notably, their first residency at hARTslane gallery featured an exhibition titled “The Unseen & The Unspoken”. This exhibition served as a platform that deviated from conventional narratives that often cast their communities in a negative light. Instead, it gave temporary relief for women artists of colour to escape stereotypical portrayals and showcase a range of work that went beyond the limitations imposed on them.
This exhibition also invited submissions by fellow women artists of colour in London which speaks to the collective’s ethos in empowering these artists in their artistic practice to take charge of their representation and experience within the arts.
Collective community building is also demonstrated in their on-going work co-facilitating The Freelance Kitchen alongside artists Nadina Ali (@nadinadidthis) and Sakina Saidi (@heyimsakina), which serves as a collaborative space that supports women & non-binary people in their creative practices.
"Our efforts also extend to motivating actionable racial allyship and solidarity and encouraging the growth and bond of community." - RIOTSOUP
Their ethos is evident in the works of the artists within the collective, such as Tinuke Fagborun (@tinuke.illustration). She describes her artistic practice as an attempt to break free from the struggles by redefining the narratives that typically surround it. Her form of relief is demonstrated by 'illustrating optimism'.
In Tinuke Fagborun's words, "I want my work to make people happy. I want them to feel something positive when they look at my work whether that is to feel soothed, full of joy, or to feel seen. I consider my work to be an optimistic response to the negativity in the world, aiming to represent different types of people from different backgrounds and walks of life."