Visual Arts

Artist Shaun Morris has been commissioned by community arts organisation Multistory to complete 25 portrait paintings of people who live and work in West Bromwich. The exhibition, titled Seek My Face, was previously shown at West Bromwich Town Hall - You can now see it at The Public.

Shaun Morris at work in his studio

Painting West Bromwich

Multistory and Shaun Morris hope that the residents of the town, and Sandwell as a whole, will come to view the portraits and will recognise their friends, neighbours, or even a part of themselves, in the people that have been painted.

Talking about the project and his work, Shaun Morris said: "I first painted about West Bromwich, my hometown, its people and places, as a student in 1988 and, in one way or another, I continued to paint about it for the next 10 years. This unique project has allowed me to find the 'long way home' that I have been seeking.

'Alfie' by Shaun Morris

"Meeting the huge variety of people I have met over the last year has been an enormous privilege. As well as all of the identities I have been given the opportunity to present, the project has allowed me to find anew my own identity and relationship to West Bromwich, both artistically and personally."

Diversity and vitality

Seek My Face has been developed and delivered by Multistory, a community arts organisation that engages communities, organisations and artists in Sandwell, the Black Country, the region and nationally through creative approaches to learning, health and regeneration. Seek My Face is funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and was commissioned by Sandwell Council’s Town Teams division.