It’s always interesting to see what artists can do with recycled and found materials. This is very apparent at the newly opened show at Royal Academy called Souls Grown Deep like the Rivers. It features a collection of work which has (mostly) been collected by William Arnett (1939-2020) who set up the Souls Grown Deep Foundation.

The work on show was all made by Black artists from the Southern states of America born between 1887 and 1965. These artists had little opportunity for conventional art training; they lived in close-knit neighbourhoods and created their work from bits and pieces they found lying around and could be used to create sculptures and wall art as well as installations. It felt quite ‘outsider art’ in many ways but rather than a solo artist evolving in isolation this is a movement. Many of the artists are descended from enslaved people in communities in South Caroline down to the Mississippi River.

The works are imaginative and heartfelt. I particularly liked the Gee’s Bend quilts – quilting is such a tradition of early America and these were made with every spare scrap of material.

The materials used include clay and sand, bits of old machinery, twigs, paper and old tin cans. I admire the way the creative mind will see seemingly disposable or obsolete objects and turn them into an artwork.

The show is on at the Royal Academy from 17th March until 18th June 2023