Young Hackney Artists Debut Auerbach-Inspired Exhibition in London 2026

Key Points

• Public Debut: A brand-new community art exhibition titled ‘Through Your Eyes’ has officially opened its doors to the public, showcasing the creative achievements of young local talent.
• The Artists: The exhibition places nineteen budding, young artists at the absolute centre stage, giving them a platform to display an impressive collection of original oil paintings.
• Artistic Inspiration: All nineteen participants drew their creative inspiration from the globally renowned German-British figurative painter Frank Auerbach.
• The Venue: Sfumato Art Studio, situated at 28 Stoke Newington High Street in London, serves as the host venue for the local cultural display.
• Core Theme: The chosen structural and thematic focus of the complete collection revolves strictly around the concept of perspective.
• Diverse Landscapes: The individual canvas pieces display an extensive range of sizes, depths, and colours, capturing various iconic Hackney landscapes.
• Commercial Opportunity: To encourage and support the financial and professional growth of the young creators, every single piece on display is currently up for public sale.
• Admission Details: The cultural event is entirely free of charge for all members of the general public, running continuously until its closing date on July 13.

Hackney (Extra London News) July 13, 2026 – An immersive new community art exhibition showcasing the highly creative and expressive work of young Hackney residents has officially opened its doors to the public, offering local people an intimate glimpse into the artistic minds of the borough’s next generation. Nineteen budding artists have taken centre stage at the highly anticipated ‘Through Your Eyes’ exhibition, where they are showing off their impressive artwork collection inspired heavily by the famous German-British painter Frank Auerbach. Held at the locally renowned Sfumato Art Studio on Stoke Newington High Street, the collective display features a vast array of unique Hackney landscapes painted carefully with oil on canvas. The pieces span a diverse range of vibrant colours and physical dimensions, all meticulously bound together across the young group’s chosen theme of perspective.

The public are being openly invited to visit the studio space to pause, engage, and deeply reflect on the unique visual perspectives adopted by each individual young artist, whilst simultaneously contemplating the deeper emotional meanings behind each bespoke piece. In an effort to give these young local talents a true taste of the professional art industry, every single painting displayed within the gallery space is currently up for public sale. To ensure maximum accessibility for the immediate community, the organisers have made the exhibition entirely free to enter for all visitors during its limited summer run.

What Is the Concept Behind the ‘Through Your Eyes’ Exhibition?

The foundational vision behind the ‘Through Your Eyes’ exhibition rests on exploring the geographical and psychological boundaries of East London through the eyes of its youngest citizens. By positioning nineteen local amateur creators at the absolute forefront of the event, the project seeks to bridge the gap between structured fine art education and raw, urban self-expression.

The artists were tasked with interpreting their home borough not merely as a physical space of brick and mortar, but as an evolving landscape shaped by personal memory, identity, and daily life. The resulting oil-on-canvas works present an eclectically styled portfolio that challenges conventional representations of London’s inner boroughs. Visitors are treated to a visual journey where familiar street corners, parks, and architectural structures are heavily re-imagined through bold textures, experimental colour palettes, and layered oil strokes.

How Did Frank Auerbach Inspire These Budding Hackney Artists?

The primary creative catalyst for the collection is the legendary German-British painter Frank Auerbach, who is celebrated globally for his intensely raw, impasto landscapes and deeply expressive figurative works. Auerbach, who spent the vast majority of his life living and working in North London, became famous for returning to the exact same local street scenes and building sites for decades, capturing the changing spirit of the city through thick, heavily reworked paint layers.

Under the guidance of their mentors, the nineteen young Hackney painters studied Auerbach’s unique methodology of capturing space, texture, and light. By focusing heavily on his trademark heavy brushwork and emotional intensity, the participants learned how to look at their own immediate environments with an analytical eye. The influence of Auerbach is highly visible throughout the Sfumato Art Studio gallery, with many young creators utilizing dense layers of oil paint to create physical texture on their canvases, mirroring the master painter’s way of breathing physical life into flat urban landscapes.

What Did Artist Josiah Ojarikre Say About the Exhibition Opportunity?

For the young people involved, the opportunity to display their work in a commercial gallery space goes far beyond simply hanging a painting on a wall; it provides a vital sense of social validation and personal achievement. As reported by Tiffany Joseph of London Now, thirteen-year-old artist Josiah Ojarikre, who has been dedicatedly attending fine art classes at the local studio for more than six months, expressed profound joy regarding his personal involvement in the project.

Josiah Ojarikre stated that: “Being part of the exhibition means I am part of a community. It allows me to be free to show and express what I love to do.” The young painter also candidly shared the natural emotional hurdles that come with presenting one’s personal creative work to the broader public for the first time. As further reported by Tiffany Joseph of London Now, Josiah Ojarikre added: “I felt nervous at first, but I think it is an amazing opportunity to create art and have it exhibited.”

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Why Is Sfumato Art Studio Founder Patricia Evangelista Proud of the Youth?

The logistical and educational driving force behind this community showcase is Patricia Evangelista, the founder of Sfumato Art Studio and the official curator of the ‘Through Your Eyes’ exhibition. Patricia Evangelista has spent years fostering a nurturing environment where local youth can access professional-grade artistic tools, conceptual artistic frameworks, and real-world industry experience.

Reflecting on the culmination of months of hard work from her pupils, the studio founder expressed immense gratification. As reported by Tiffany Joseph of London Now, exhibition curator Patricia Evangelista stated: “I am very proud of the work all the young people have created. I want to continue to inspire young people and not only introduce them to art but also to teach them how to prepare for art exhibitions.” Through this holistic approach, the curator aims to equip her young students with the practical life skills required to navigate the competitive commercial realities of the global art world.

How Can the Public Visit the Sfumato Art Studio Exhibition?

For London residents and art enthusiasts wishing to view or purchase pieces from this exceptional youth collection, the exhibition remains open to all demographics with no entry fees required. The physical details for the venue and timing are outlined below:

Where Is the Art Exhibition Located?

The collection is hosted at Sfumato Art Studio, located at 28 Stoke Newington High Street, London, N16 7PL. The studio serves as a prominent cultural hub within the vibrant Stoke Newington area, known for supporting grassroots arts and local community initiatives.

When Does the ‘Through Your Eyes’ Exhibition Close?

The public exhibition is open daily and will run continuously until its official closing date on July 13. Community members are encouraged to visit before the final date to view the landscapes and potentially purchase original artwork from the borough’s future art stars. For further details on the studio’s schedule, curriculum, or youth enrollment programs, families can access the official platform at https://sfumatoartstudio.co.uk/.