The Art of Becoming Free - Works of Zato (Zahra Fakih)

“A work of art is a scream for freedom,” wrote Christo, words that echo through the practice of Zato, whose vibrant, layered works channel both personal liberation and collective healing. Born in Sierra Leone, her art transforms shadow into light, pain into rhythm, and vision into manifestation. Each work is a portal: abstract bursts of color pulsing with unseen energies, symbolic journeys through a multitude of vessels. They are meditations on resilience, connection, and the unfolding of desire into reality. At once deeply rooted in tradition and fiercely contemporary, Zato’s paintings carry the heartbeat and spirit of Sierra Leone, of her Diaspora and the grace of women who hold communities together. This exhibition invites viewers to step inside her world , a space where art is not only image but liberation, life raft, and saviour - and to witness how creation itself becomes an act of freedom and springboard for much more.