Olivia Sterling (b. 1996)

Sterling is a London-based painter whose vividly coloured, tightly composed works examine race, class, gender and social status through scenes of everyday British life. Often set in domestic interiors or public spaces, her paintings combine fragmented bodies, food and familiar cultural references with sharp humour to expose both the subtle and overt manifestations of racism. Recurring motifs -including Victoria sponge cakes, milk bottles and girl guide symbols - root her work in a distinctly British visual language while questioning the assumptions embedded within it. For the exhibition, Sterling presents two paintings alongside a sculptural work, extending her exploration of domestic objects, identity and representation across different media. Sterling graduated from the University of Derby before completing an MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art in 2020. Her work has been exhibited internationally, with solo exhibitions at Meyer Riegger, Basel and Berlin, Guts Gallery, London, and Nevven, Gothenburg, alongside group exhibitions across Europe and the United States. In 2023, she exhibited with Meyer Riegger at Art Basel.