My Artist Story: Herald
artist film
This short artist film is the third in the documentary series, My Artist Story, profiling learning-disabled and neurodivergent artists from Artbox London. The series captures personal and creative portraits of artists whose work challenges convention and expands our understanding of contemporary art practice.
Herald creates vibrant artworks using oil pastels, coloured pencils, and clay, drawing inspiration from Black history, culture, and music. His pieces highlight influential Black figures across Africa, the Caribbean, and America - leaders, musicians, and visionaries who persevered through times of repression and resistance.
A proud Ghanaian, Herald sees art as a way of sharing knowledge, promoting equality, and staying connected to his roots.
“For me, it’s about knowing where I come from – I’m interested in how it all comes together.”
Music - Hip-hop, jazz, soul, Doo-wop, R&B, gospel - plays a central role in his life, inspiring his creative process as he explores London and develops ideas in his sketchbooks. To illustrate the influences behind his work, we integrated archival footage from the Internet Archive, connecting Herald’s contemporary practice to the historical and cultural references he draws upon. By combining personal portraiture, creative process, and historical context, the film offers an intimate look at his artistic journey.
The 16mm film used was generously provided by Kodak.
