Working in clay-based sculpture, Leena Similu (b. London, UK) considers identity as multifaceted and intertwining modes—namely, one of personal history and origin, and another of the expansive experience of motherhood. Replete with a sense of formal play and conceptual depth, her works are closely influenced by her West African heritage and echo the complexities of living within multiple cultures in a Eurocentric society. As a material, the enduring nature of clay lends itself to Similu’s interest in temporality, suggesting an exploratory dialogue between past, present, and future.

Similu—a longtime designer for fashion houses like Jil Sander and Stella McCartney—first began making ceramic works while pregnant with her son. This transformative period compelled the artist to reflect on her own mother’s Cameroon lineage and the culture shared between herself, her ancestors, and her child. In the years since, Similu has developed a practice characterized by a sharp compositional eye and bold elegance. Visual and textural references to West African masquerading traditions evoke the qualities of a historical artifact, while highly contemporary color and finish choices such as platinum root each work in the current moment. Championing openness and idiosyncrasy, the artist’s energetic hand is always present, inviting viewers into an experience of narrative potential and humanistic curiosity.