Tales from a Lonely Londoner

Self-taught photographer Bandele 'Tex' Ajetunmobi emigrated from Nigeria to England in the late 1940s and settled in Cable Street in Shadwell.

His work was hidden until after his death when his niece Victoria Loughran produced stunning pictures from his huge collection. Photographer Dennis Morris, famed for his Bob Marley images, said: “It’s the first time I've seen such a large collection by a black photographer from that era in England. It gives a unique idea of what life would have been like for the present generation's parents and grandparents".

Tex (self-portrait, left) depicted ordinary people of all races going about their everyday lives.  Join us here for the First Thursday launch on 4 October to see his amazing pictures and mark Black History Month.

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PREVIOUS EVENTS AT THE GALLERY CAFE.....

First Thursday - Ross’s band Blue Rose Code perform
 As well as making great cappuccino, Ross has been building up a following with his alternative folk Caledonian soul band Blue Rose Code. Catch a free performance from 7pm on Thursday 2 August when we’re open until 9pm. Artist Sylwia Suma’s show ‘Storm in a Teacup’ will feature. We’re joining the superb Arts Council/Time Out scheme of staying open late on the first Thursday of each month for new art exhibition launches and other entertainment. Spread the word… more info at www.firstthursdays.co.uk

Sylwia Suma exhibition at the Gallery Café to 11 August

Monday – Friday 9am to 4pm; Saturday 11.30am – 4pm
late opening to 9pm Thursday 6 September in association
with Time Out and the Arts Council First Thursdays

In keeping with the theme of portraying people surrounding Suma’s life, during the exhibition consenting visitors may well be invited to a sitting and become the subject of her work.

As such they will find themselves, hung-up, alongside other works, throughout the remainder of the exhibition.

The human form acts as the centre piece for virtually all of Suma’s work. Suma communicates quickly and directly with broad and simple painting.

She has developed a working approach that hints to an organic quality in the way pieces emerge through matching and relating her intensity of emotions to her fevered activity of brushwork and strength of colour.

Pictured below: Call to Prayer

Michael Parlamas: Gallery Café exhibition
Tuesday 4 September to Monday 1 October

late opening to 9pm in association
with Time Out and the Arts Council First Thursdays

Parlamas’s painting aims to eradicate stereotypes and elevate to a superlative virtue the energy for creativity, spontaneity, playfulness and enthusiasm for life itself.

He strongly believes in a global unity where there is no mine and yours, but the appraisal for the beautiful and the remarkable surpassing the boundaries of every country acquiring a global recognition.

He is of the opinion that in this way many problems are overcome, creativity is enhanced for the artist since he or she transcends any taboos and advances in the creation of an artistic work without any inhibitions.