Shepherd Manyika is a London based artist who works with mixed media. He is interested in representations, drawing narratives from found images and the everyday. Manyika graduated in BA Fine Art at Central Saint Martins in 2011 and MA in Academic Practice in Art, Design and Communication
from Central Saint Martins in 2019. He exhibited at Royal Academy School of Arts with the Parasites school residency and also works on various education programs across London.
He has worked with large institutions such as South London Gallery, Tate, Central Saint Martins, Whitechapel Peckham Platform, Camden Arts Centre and Milton Keynes Arts Centre.
In 2019, Iniva hosted the launch of Manyika’s project Here We Come, The Release Party (2019). The sound work involved Manyika working with the Westminster based community group ETAT (Encouragement Through the Arts and Talking) to respond to preconceived notions of hip-hop. Collectively they produced incredible tracks of spoken word and rap – combining inspiration from drill to wartime classics, recorded in an eight track vinyl EP. This LP became part of the Stuart Hall Library Collection in 2019, made possible by funding from #MyWestminster. He has also produced a special limited edition print, based on Here We Come, The Release Party (2019).
Manyika has led workshops at Earlsmead Primary School in 2019 that were inspired by the model of Iniva Creative Learning’s integrated art and art therapy programme: ArtLab. Supported by therapist Anna Sikorska, the workshops focused on supporting a small group of children in developing their emotional and relational skills whilst providing space for individual creativity. Increasing confidence and broadening horizons were central to the workshop goals and the children were introduced to a wide range of art and artists.
Shepherd Manyika lives and works in London.