Hull Gallery Welcomes Stunning New Maritime Masterpieces!

The Ferens Art Gallery in Hull has announced the addition of two new contemporary artworks to its permanent collection, bringing fresh perspectives to the city's art scene. The pieces, Drift Ice by Emma Stibbon and Madame La Sirene by Abe Odedina, were both featured in the recent Sirens: Women and the Sea exhibition at the gallery. These acquisitions were made possible through funds left by the gallery's founder, Thomas Ferens, who wanted to support the arts in Hull.

Madame La Sirene, created by Abe Odedina in 2024, is a striking painting that depicts a black woman in a green dress. She sits in a large clam shell, holding an arrow, with a striped barbers pole beside her. In the foreground, a white and black dog rests in an orange and black basket on a red rug. Odedina, originally from Nigeria and born in 1960, studied architecture in Hull before becoming an internationally recognized artist. His work is known for drawing on folk art, mythology, and scenes from everyday life, which gives his paintings a unique and meaningful style.

The second artwork, Drift Ice, was created by Emma Stibbon in 2014. Stibbon, born in Munster, Germany in 1962, is a Royal Academician and is known for her works on paper that explore environments undergoing change. Drift Ice shows a dramatic scene of large, irregular blocks of ice floating in a snowy landscape. Councillor Rob Pritchard, who is responsible for culture and leisure in Hull, expressed excitement about the new additions. He explained that the gallery's collection already includes important maritime art, and these new pieces will continue that tradition while offering new viewpoints for visitors. The gallery hopes that these artworks will inspire and engage the people of Hull for years to come.