Sisterhood Series: RIOT SOUP, Meet The London Art Collective Unifying Women of Colour

RIOT SOUP is an art collective for women of colour, running monthly socials, curating exhibitions and hosting workshops. From collage artists to classical painters, photographers to illustrators, RIOT SOUP is like its name suggests – a mixture of disciplines allowing for flavours to flourish. Having been recognised for their work by organisations such as the Tate and the Southbank Centre, this intergenerational team of artists are proof of how sisterly support can transform careers and provide creative opportunities.

We asked the founder of RIOT SOUP, Asma and her gang of artist sisters to tell us about the individual transformations their collective has encouraged as well as the bountiful benefits of women supporting women.

RIOT SOUP on the Role of Sisterhood stated that

“Sisterhood, especially in this group, means everything. It’s what brought us together. It’s about connection, it’s about support; being able to meet up and hang. That’s something unique about what women bring to each other, so when you splice that with whatever your art practice is, you’ve got something really special. With the help of these guys it feels like anything is possible. I feel empowered and I hope we can make the change that we want to see because women are underrepresented within the arts, especially women of colour, very specifically, very importantly.”

Lorna, Visual artist @lscott_artist // Wears Coat: Timothee Gleize

““Sisterhood, especially in this group, means everything. It’s what brought us together.””

On Connecting as WOC:

“We all knew that we wanted to create art but we wanted to create it with people who look like us and that might have the same thoughts and feelings and emotions about art in some sort of way. It’s a way for us to vibe with other illustrators, photographers, artists, actors, to come together, create stuff and have someone to fall back on.

We’re all women of colour so we have something in common, there’s a certain shared experience, and when we come together, we can discuss the issues that really irk us and it’s therapeutic. We have our meetings and discuss whichever art related topics and then we can have a moan.”

Asma Istwani - Founder of RIOT SOUP, @asmaeatsart // Wears Dress: Uooya

Sarah, Photographer @sarah.ejionye // Wears Tops: Lauren Good , Jacket: Charlie McCosker, Skirt: Uooya

““Since I’ve joined the group I’ve created more work in the past year than the last 5 years. When I first started I was just doing acrylic, now I am doing mixed media and textile.””

Simone - @sim_artnsoul Visual artist // Wears Dress: Rue Agthonis

Raabia, Artist painting in acrylics @mira_phe // Wears Dress: Kappa , Jacket: Amy Barrie

On the Unifying Role of Art:

“I think, thanks to art, we lead an examined life; we see things differently and we share that together. We’re all constantly creating work, we think more in depth about [specific] issues and RIOT SOUP is a really good space to explore that together. I think it improves our lives and improves all our practices.

We’ve learnt about the different sides of each other, how we approach things [and] look at a topic from different points of view. It’s helped with the development of RIOT SOUP [because] it's taught us how to bring ideas in and compromise, how to resolve conflicts, to manage and organise.

I was a freelance illustrator doing it all by myself, and then I joined RIOT SOUP and we had this sisterhood, this family bond - and somehow that translated into my professional work. I wasn’t in this by myself.”

““I have this whole art community I’m part of and I’ve felt more secure. There’s an allyship that’s been formed in the most beautiful way.””

Salma Istwani - Painter & decorator @salmathepainter // Wears Shorts & Blazer: Sophie Hermann, Top: S/O

Di'mond - Artist / writer - @dimondqai // Wears Jacket: Nike

““The internet for all its seeming distance has brought us all together in a way that I couldn’t have imagined. I’m so enormously grateful and humbled.””

Tinuke, illustrator @tinuke.illustration // Wears Chaps: Charlie McCoske, Shorts: Lauren Good

Anna, Visual artist @annaglibbery // Wears Top: Livia Tang, Trousers: Lauren Good

On the Benefits of Building Relationships:

“I think being part of an excelling group that’s so close knit has made me a lot more comfortable in what I do; it’s that safety net. Before I joined RIOT SOUP, I thought I couldn’t juggle a full-time job and make art, so it has been nice to steer that professional and creative path. I’m able to tick things off a bucket list I didn’t even know I had!

““With RIOT SOUP it didn’t feel like meeting new people, it felt like meeting extensions of myself. This is the kind of thing I had been hoping for [when] sitting in my room thinking “Painting is fun, I wonder if anyone else does this”. The way we’ve fed off people in the year has been brilliant.””

Tope, Visual artist @drawnimagination // Wears Jacket: Timothee Gleize Dress and apron: Lauren Good

When I first joined the group, I was in a dark place, professionally, I wasn’t creating anything so when [RIOT SOUP] came into my life, I came out of that place. It’s so nice to have these sisters literally with me all the time, they’re basically family. If I could thank them for anything it would be for their unconditional love and support.

In conversation with Asma, Salma, Anna, Tinuke, Simone, Sarah, Di’imond, Raabia, Tope, and Lorna.

Credits

Director: Sheena Bonsu Brobbey DOP: Julia Fiona Brown Stylist: Femi Ayo Photography: Shonay Shote MUA: Francesca Daniella Hair: Sheree Jourdan & Phebe Checks Photography assisted by @florenceakano Hair assisted by @nasa_raye Creative Assistant: Siphiwe Mnguni Creative Assistant: Ryanna Allen Edit: Shaquilla Alexander Sound: Mia Zur-Zipporah Words: Bethany Burgoyne