Liesa Bacchus

Liesa Bacchus (b. 1988) is a British painter of Indo-Caribbean heritage, whose parents hail from Trinidad and Guyana.

Liesa’s practice is an exploration of her dual identity, with her family and their history being the main source of inspiration for her paintings. She draws upon their lived experiences in the Caribbean and their subsequent move to England in the 1950’s and 1980’s.

Her work addresses themes of colonialism, ‘British-ness’, the Indo-Caribbean diaspora and the indigenous peoples of the lands her ancestors were displaced to through indentureship.

Although Liesa would primarily describe herself as a painter, drawing has continued to be fundamental to her practice, often describing this aspect of the creative process as being ‘the bones for the paintings’. A lot of this stems from the act of drawing as being a cathartic exercise for Liesa, where it gives her agency to re-evaluate and re-center herself as a painter.

Liesa pieces together, personal photographs and stories passed down from generations past with material sourced from documentaries and literature, resulting with each of these components serving as the foundation for the Art she creates.

Liesa is a member of Second Floor Studios, she lives and works in London.

Some recent bits and wip images from the studio. I'm currently working on a composition focusing on my dad's permanent departure from the Caribbean to live in England. 🤍🌴🤲🏼🖌 #liesabacchusart #wipart #diasporicart #westindianart #windrushgenerat
Wip detail image of the painting so far. This composition in progress is based on a photograph taken in 1962, British Guiana (Guyana) of my dad with my paternal great-grandmother when he was permanently leaving the Caribbean to live in England. Furth
Some of my favourite painting detail images from my series "Indentured Servitude." This series is inspired by archival colonial photography taken of the Indian indentured labourers working on plantations across former/European colonies. Th
I'm currently working on a poignant piece that focuses on my family's history. The composition is inspired by a photograph taken of my dad with my paternal great-grandmother in 1962 when he was leaving British Guiana (Guyana) to permanently relocate
One week from today until our annual @secondfloorstudios open studio event! Come and visit me at the studio on the 4th of October from 11am-5pm, where you can see finished works along with works in progress. You will also have the opportunity to mee
Thank you to those who have visited the show! Four days left to visit the ArtEvol 2025 exhibition Voices from the Undefined and see my painting 'Indentured Indian labourers waiting at the depot, Suriname' IRL! @saatchi_gallery The exhibition is cu
Last night's private view for the ArtEvol 2025 exhibition Voices from the Undefined. My painting, 'Indentured Indian labourers waiting at the depot, Suriname', can be viewed in this exhibition, which will run until the 19th of September @saatchi_gal
I am delighted to share that my painting, 'Indentured Indian labourers waiting at the depot, Suriname', has been selected for the ArtEvol 2025 exhibition: Voices from the Undefined The exhibition is curated by @nelson.qin and organised by @londonartc
Save the date! I will be participating in the annual SFSA open studio event on the 4th of October from 11am-5pm. It is a great opportunity to see current works in progress and visit the studios of my talented neighbours! I will post further info clos

C.V

Education: BA Hons Fine Art Painting, University of the Arts London 2010


Publications & Commissions:

Four Seasons Resort Anguilla, commissioned artworks 2025

CURA Art: online article, September 2025

Artist’s Responding To: Magazine Issue 12, October 2024-January 2025

Kalpani Archives: Online Article, February 2025

Akasia’s Big Trip: Illustrator, 2024

That Guyana Page: Online Article, August 2022

Group Exhibitions:

ArtEvol 2025: Voices from the Undefined, Saatchi Gallery, 2025

The Art Of Settling In: Indra Gallery, 2025

SFSA Painting Open: No Format Gallery, 2024

Peanut Butter & Blueberries Art Exhibition: Kiln Theatre, 2024

Branches: Mile End Art Pavilion, 2024

SFSA Painting Open: No Format Gallery, 2023

Open Studio: Second Floor Studios, 2023

SFSA Drawing Open: No Format Gallery, 2023

Open Studio: Create Space London, 2019

Staff Art Show: Victoria and Albert Museum London, 2019

Salon des Refuses: Candid Arts Trust London, 2018

Chrysalis: Electric House London, 2013

Brent Art Fair: Willesden Green Gallery, 2012

Brent Salon des Arts: Brent Artists Resource London, 2012

Roy’s Salon Tea Party: Commune Gallery London, 2012

The Wall @ The Gallery London, 2012

The Exhibition in Print: Willesden Green Gallery London, 2012

Brent Art Fair: Willesden Green Gallery London,2011

The Spring Show: Brent Artists Resource London, 2011

Parallax Art Fair: La Galleria Pall Mall London, 2011

Outside The Box: Degree Show, Wimbledon College of Art London, 2010

Au Jour Dui, Wimbledon College of Art London, 2008

First Year Painters Foyer Show, Wimbledon College of Art London, 2007

An interdisciplinary art collective exploring the global histories and contemporary echoes of
Indian Indentureship.

The year 1834 marks a pivotal shift

The end of slavery in the British Empire and the beginning of the Indian indenture system, a transition that reshaped the lives, families and cultures of our ancestors across oceans.

As a collective, we create space for these histories to be seen, felt, and carried forward. Our work is not academic it is personal, intuitive, and deeply rooted in ancestral memories. Through painting, photography, performance, storytelling and research shaped by curiosity rather than institutions, we follow the overlooked narratives.

An indenture is a work contract that ties a labourer to an employer for a set number of years. This kind of agreement has existed in many places throughout history. But from the 16th century onwards, as European countries expanded their colonies, indenture grew into a much larger and more widespread system.

People were recruited to work far from home and sent on long sea journeys that many never returned from. They were often promised land or a better life after their contract ended, but these promises were rarely kept.

Our aim is to honour ancestral resilience, reconnect with what was silenced and open new conversations about identity, belonging, and the ongoing legacies of indenture in our communities today.

Affected Countries

Australia, Barbados, China, Cuba, Fiji, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Malaysia, Martinique, Mauritius, Peru, Portugal, Réunion, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu.