In our series where we look at the things, places and people that inspire a creative’s working life, Service95’s Funmi Fetto meets London-based artist Sahara Longe
Sahara Longe is a British Sierra-Leonean figurative artist known for her vibrantly colourful, often large-scale oil paintings. In 2021, she was selected for the Palazzo Monti Residency programme in Brescia, Italy, and her celebrated works have appeared in shows including Art Basel Miami and Art Lagos. Her solo exhibition New Shapes at Timothy Taylor London is on now. She chats to Service95 about working with her “unfriendly” dog, her love of collecting weird objects and hiding family members in her paintings...
On Her Daily Ritual... I walk with my dog through the park and get to my studio in Brixton for 10AM, then I’ll paint until 7PM. At lunch time I head to Brixton Market, there are lots of food trucks there. I go to the Ethiopian one – the food is so yummy. Afterwards, I come back and continue painting. It’s pretty boring, but it’s very nice. Just me and the dog – heaven!
On Her Studio Playlist... I work in silence for the first two hours, only once I’ve done the hard stuff can I put music on. I love singing along to the Les Misérables soundtrack as it’s just so dramatic. Either that or The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. In the evening, I turn it up really loud because the studio next door has gone home.
On The People In Her Paintings... I’m fascinated by street scenes, so I put a lot of strangers in my work. I’ll sometimes see a face and imagine what their life’s like. I also like to use people I know: my Nigerian hairdresser (she has a great face); or I’ll sometimes tuck my sister Edwina into a painting. I have an aunt I don’t like much, so I put her in as an evil character. It’s so fun.
On Her Work Uniform... Anything I accidentally splashed paint on would become my new painting clothes – I destroy everything! So I’ve recently got these all-in-ones that cost £25. My painting clothes have to be comfortable.
On Travel... I’m going to Japan soon as I really want to learn more about woodcutting techniques. And one of my favourite places in the world is Florence. I lived there as an art student. The people are so friendly; it’s like a very beautiful but relaxed party.
On Collecting... I’m obsessed with Agatha Christie stories, but mainly I love weird vintage stuff, like these 1960s plates with eyes that wink at you. I have a lot of vintage cheerleading outfits that I bought in Texas, but they don’t actually fit me. And I love the Sierra-Leonean dolls and sculptures I got from my mum – I just find the expressions on their faces so powerful. If I come across a ceramic King Charles spaniel, I have to buy it. I’m not sure where my obsession comes from – I don’t have a King Charles spaniel! Mine is a mixture of jack russell, chihuahua and pomeranian, the worst dogs put together. She’s so unfriendly.
On Artistic Inspirations... Ernst Kirchner used a lot of colour and African masks – I love the way they show up in his work. Lynette Yiadom-Boakye is a huge inspiration; I was blown away by her Tate Modern exhibition in London. I’m also obsessed with Michael Armitage. I went to his Royal Academy of Arts show in 2021 and I was like ‘Oh my God, how do you do this?’ His use of materials and colour is so cool and complicated.
On Alternative Careers... I love to paint furniture, but I’m not very good at making furniture. Maybe I would go into farming. I grew up on a farm in Suffolk and really love animals, but I’m not vegetarian so I’m probably the worst animal lover in the world.
On The Best Advice She’s Received... Never sell something you’re not proud of. There’s a lot of stuff I’m glad I didn’t sell. But there are a few works I did where I’m like, ‘Please God, I hope the building it’s in burns down.’
Funmi Fetto is the Global Editorial Director of Service95 and a Contributing Editor at British Vogue
