Bulwell based artist prepares for charity event in aid of breast cancer research

Zimbabwe born artist Kerdisha Ali-Arab, 25, creates feminist art tackling topics such as consent, LGBTQ+ rights, body image and the sexualisation of women.

The event will be held on October 1 at BrewDog on Broad Street in Hockley showcasing Kerdisha’s artwork. There will also be a charity raffle with high end prizes to be won and three Nottingham-based music artists are lined up to be performing; Chloe Rodgers, Kelsey Shaw, and Megs.

Speaking about the event she said: “I didn’t want the exhibition to be a way to make profit, I want it to be where people can enjoy my art and I can speak to people explaining what my art is about rather than when I’m on a stall in business mode.

“I chose to do the event in aid of Nottingham Breast Cancer Research because my art is about making change but I wanted to make real change.”

The art exhibition has been named – Reclaiming our bodies: Empowered women shattering stereotypes. It comes after Kerdisha’s artwork continued to be denied from art galleries and shows because it was deemed to be “too mature despite all the women being in lingerie.”

She says: “I want this event to be about reclaiming our bodies as women but also promoting a positive message and shattering stereotypes such as that women have to shave, they can if they want to but there’s nothing that says we have to.

“People feel that my art says the stuff they can’t.”

Her passion for feminist art was sparked during school when she was told she was unable to draw the female form in an art exam as it would be seen as pornography.

From then on she said: “This sparked me to realise women’s bodies are sexualised.”

And she has continued to make it her mission to break this perception.

Kerdisha has a successful Instagram page @art.by.kerdisha with over 5,000 followers where images of her work are posted and available to purchase on her etsy store, Kerdishas creations.

Her event on October 1 is free to attend with donation boxes placed around the venue in the hope to raise money and awareness. There will be goodie bags given out to the first 20 people who arrive.