Helena Foster

Kasmin presents the first New York solo exhibition of London-based painter Helena Foster, which opens at 297 Tenth Avenue. Time Honoured features new oil paintings on linen, paper, and vellum that express Foster's lyrical approach to painting as an accumulation of cultural and generational wisdom. Foster draws freely from literature, theater, film, Igbo oral tradition, and religion, achieving a dreamlike aura of mystery in dynamic compositions ambiguously set between thick vegetation and the built environment. Often populated by figures, whether isolated in anticipation of a gathering or in groups who huddle, recline, and walk in procession, these scenes cohere into a visual universe distinguished by its earthen palette and deft rendering of light. Exploring themes of community, memory, and prophecy, Foster's paintings offer visual proverbs for the contemporary age.

Helena Foster was born in Benin City, Nigeria, in 1988. She graduated from Camberwell College of Art, University of the Arts London, in 2010. Recent solo and group exhibitions include Ingleby, Edinburgh (2025), Sid Motion Gallery, London (2024), Pablo's Birthday, New York, NY (2023), Simon Lee, London, UK (2023), French Riviera, London, UK (2022), FF Projects, London, UK (2022), Brick Lane, London, UK (2022), The Sunday Painter, London, UK (2022), Septieme Gallery, Paris, France (2021), Bow Arts, London, UK (2020), Studio 1.1, London, UK (2019), Victoria Island, Lagos, NG (2019), Seesaw Studio, London, UK (2018), The Crypt Gallery, London, UK (2018), The Crows Nest Gallery, London, UK (2018), Art Hub Gallery, London, UK (2017), Remp Art Gallery, Marrakech, MA (2010), Tate Britain, London, UK (2009). She lives and works in London.