SOMAYA CRITCHLOW
Somaya Critchlow (b. 1993, London) lives and works in London. She obtained her BA in painting at the University of Brighton before joining The Royal Drawing School, where she earned a Postgraduate Diploma in 2017. In February 2025, Critchlow opened her first institutional solo show in the UK: The Chamber at Dulwich Picture Gallery, London. Recent solo exhibitions include Triple Threat, curated by Hilton Als at Maximillian William, London (2024); Afternoon’s Darkness at Maximillian William, London (2022); and Blow-Up at Galerie Gregor Staiger, Zürich (2021). In April 2023, Somaya Critchlow: Paintings and Drawings, the artist’s first institutional show in North America, opened at The FLAG Art Foundation in New York. Critchlow is currently included in the group show, Postures: Jean Rhys in the Modern World, curated by Hilton Als at Michael Werner Gallery, London. In autumn 2023, Critchlow was featured in the group show “Pictures Girls Make”: Portraitures, curated by Alison M. Gingeras at Blum & Poe, Los Angeles. Critchlow’s work is held in public collections including, The Morgan Library & Museum, New York; LACMA, Los Angeles; Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; the British Museum, London; The Box, Plymouth; and the Arts Council Collection, London, among others.
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SELECTED WORKS
Somaya Critchlow; The Painter II, 2024; Japanese ink on paper; 49.5 x 42 cm; 19 1/2 x 16 1/2 in.;
Somaya Critchlow; Owls, Bats and Cats, 2024; Japanese ink on paper; 41 x 33.8 cm; 16 1/8 x 13 1/4 in.;
Somaya Critchlow; Wide Eyed, 2024; Oil on canvas; 27 x 24 cm; 10 5/8 x 9 1/2 in.;
Somaya Critchlow; Shadow play, Shadow self, Symmetry, 2023; Watercolour on paper; 10 x 6.5 cm;
Somaya Critchlow; Yellow Dress, 2022; Oil on linen; 33 x 23 1/4 in (83.7 x 59.2 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Bedstead (Asymmetry), 2022; Oil on linen; Unframed:; 36 1/4 x 27 in (92 x 68.5 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; X Studies the work of Pythagoras, 2022; Oil on linen; Unframed: 17.8 x 12.5 cm; Framed: 34.6 x 29.6 x 6.2 cm;
Somaya Critchlow; The View Over St Erth, 2022; Oil on linen; Unframed:; 45 5/8 x 34 1/4 in; (115.9 x 87 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Count Me Out, 2022; Oil on linen; 81.5 x 57.6 cm;
Somaya Critchlow; The Pink Iron Bedstead, 2021; Oil on linen; 10 x 8.1 in (25.5 x 20.5 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; The Manganese Violet Shoe, 2021; Oil on linen; 10 x 8.1 in (25.5 x 20.5 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Little Hermit, 2020; Oil on Linen; 21.5 x 15.5 x 2 cm;
Somaya Critchlow; Cowboy Bebop, 2018; Oil on Canvas; 9 x 6.7 in (22.8 x 17 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Untitled (Rope and Moon), 2018; Oil on Canvas; 8.2 x 5.8 in (21 x 14.8 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Kim's Blue Hair With Dog, 2019; Oil on Canvas; Framed: 9 x 6.6 in (23 x 16.9 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Emblem for Watermelon, 2019; Oil on canvas; 3.9 x 2.7 in (10 x 6.9 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; XXXyz (Blackface/Shooter), 2019; Oil on canvas; 9 x 6.7 in (22.9 x 17 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Figure Holding a Little Teacup, 2019; Oil on linen; 8.35 x 5.83 in (21.1 x 14.8 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Untitled (Pink Hair), 2019; Oil on linen; 10 x 8.2 in (25.5 x 20.9 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Dolly, 2019; Oil on linen; 8.27 x 5.91 in (21 x 15 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Little Susie, 2019; Oil on linen; 10 x 8.2 in (25.5 x 20.9 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Untitled (Mandolin), 2019; Oil on linen; 8.4 x 5.9 in (21.3 x 15.1 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Shelley X, 2019; Oil on linen; 8.4 x 5.9 in (21.3 x 15.1 cm);
Somaya Critchlow; Obligation II, 2019; Oil on linen; 34 × 24 in (86.4 × 61 cm);
GALLERY EXHIBITIONS
PRESS, EXTERNAL & INSTITUTIONAL SHOWS
Somaya Critichlow in conversation with British Museum curator Isabel Seligman.