For all inquiries please email ldpohl146@gmail.com
About
Louis Pohl Koseda is a British multidisciplinary artist whose practice moves between fine-line drawing, painting, and architectural thinking. Born in London in 1991, his narrative-driven works examine the complex social systems, physical environments, and human behavior shaping contemporary British society.
In his early life, he was raised in a Hare Krishna community in East London. This background provided sensitivity toward belief systems, collective structures, and critiques of mainstream social paradigms. In education, he initially trained as an architect at the University of Sheffield. He then spent a decade directing grassroots community initiatives centered on open public food spaces, common land, housing shortages, and spatial agency. (See earlier work) He later refined his studio practice by completing the postgraduate program at the Royal Drawing School in London. He recently held his first major London solo show in Christie’s London’s in the King Street gallery.
His artwork is recognisable for its precise, automatic draftsmanship. Working primarily from imagination, memory, and social theory. With compositions that blend perennial art motifs with modern-day anxieties. Developing Mnemonic Cityscapes that capture the psychological terrain of London - ranging from overcrowded housing, financial institutions, job centers. Koseda uses Social Critique & Satire in his works to serve as modern-day moral tales, tackling pressing socioeconomic issues. In this practice he juxtaposes literature, printmaking and architectural drawing traditions, Christian iconography, and ancient Hindu texts with the visceral, sometimes brutal and comedic realities of modern city living.
Koseda has exhibited in over five countries. His socially engaged architecture and community projects have been featured in the British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Winner of the prestigious inaugural Christie’s award. Following this his solo show The Dawn of the Golden Age (2025) was hosted at Christie's London. He was a Recipient of an RIBA-MacEwen Award, a World Architecture Festival commendation, and multiple Civic Trust Awards.
Artists C.V
Provenance Essay by Simona Dolari, Phd, Senior Provenance Researcher at Christie's London.
My work has been featured in La Venice Biennale's British Pavilion (2020). My debut Solo Show was in Christies london (2025) and i have won the Christies award(2023), An RBA Rising Stars Award(2024), have won a RIBA MacEwan Award for Architecture for Social Good(2017), a Civic Trust's People's Choice Award(2015), Civic trust best small projects award(2015), aswell as a World Architecture Festival award (high commendation) in the category of ‘rethink and renew’ (2012)
Collections: Manuella Wirth (Hauser Wirth), The Royal Collection (2024) George Clarke (Channel 4),Casa Malaparte Collection, Bombass and Parr, Museo Ciasa Grande Collection, Switzerland, James Lambert OBE Collection + Various private collections
I grew up in East London and was raised as a Hare Krishna. I studied architecture at the University of Sheffield. I wrote my dissertation on the ancient Vedic art of architecture under Professor Peter Blundell Jones, who introduced me to the practice of social architecture, which views architecture as a social science and an anthropological field.
I founded the Foodhall Project Sheffield (2015) and the National Food Service (2018). I spent seven years working alongside communities to develop social architecture and social art projects, serving as director of the organisation I founded.
I worked on the intersection between art and architecture for ten years. I created pavilions and large sculptural works internationally in several countries, including Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland; Rijeka, Croatia; Fredericia, Denmark; and Nida, Lithuania. Worked at EASA as a Tutor and Moderator for conferences, and as an architectural coordinator for the Long Live Southbank Undercroft Restoration.
Worked with Studio Polpo: the UK’s first architectural social enterprise. Worked with Assemble on the early stage research for the House of Anetta Project and the formation of AB__, a new social architecture organisation.
Drawing was the underpinning of most projects, so i completed the Drawing Year to further advacne my skills.
I have received a Christie's award to support a new body of work culminating in my. Debut solo show at Christie's in London.
I founded the Foodhall Project Sheffield (2015) and the National Food Service (2018). I spent seven years working alongside communities to develop social architecture and social art projects, serving as director of the organisation I founded.
I worked on the intersection between art and architecture for ten years. I created pavilions and large sculptural works internationally in several countries, including Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland; Rijeka, Croatia; Fredericia, Denmark; and Nida, Lithuania. Worked at EASA as a Tutor and Moderator for conferences, and as an architectural coordinator for the Long Live Southbank Undercroft Restoration.
In this time i worked with Studio Polpo, the Uk's first architecture Social enterprise.
Drawing was the underpinning of most projects, so i completed the Drawing Year to further advacne my skills.
I have received a Christie's award to support a new body of work culminating in my. Debut solo show at Christie's in London.
I have developed several workshops based on the philosophy of my work, at the University of Sheffield, as well as by the European Architecture Students Assembly, Arts Council-funded programmes, and Big Lottery-funded programmes.
2025
Christie's London Solo Show,
Artificial Show, Design Museum,
John Moores Painting Prize Exhibition, Liverpool,
The Power of Drawing Show, Saint James’ Palace,
Old Queen Street Gallery, Capital at Risk exhibition,
Opening of the City of Sanctuary, Sheffield,
2024
RBA rising stars Show Green Park, London,
Royal Drawing School Summer Show,
Whorl, Pulp Collective Group Show, Stratford,
Apach Group Show Brixton,
Borgo Pignano Residency, Italy,
Dumfries House Residency, Scotland,
2023
Christie’s, London, The Year in Drawing.
Royal Drawing School, The Drawing Year exhibition,
Space Studios Mare Street, Studio Show exhibition,
Manchester Contemporary, Collaborative piece exhibited with Seb Koseda,
Borgo Pignano, Italy, Oil paint landscape exhibition,
Bloc projects, EASA Commons exhibition,
House of Anetta - AB__ workshops, Presentations of the research and drawings.
2022
The Building Centre, Garden of privatised delights exhibition,
City of Sanctuary Sheffield (action-research exhibition),
Crucible Theatre Sheffield - Ark Sheffield, Audio recordings exhibition and stage discussion,
Brown Street, Newhall - action-research exhibition.
Newhall Sheffield, launch,
2020
Venice Biennale, The Garden of Privatised Delights feature in the Studio Polpo pavilion.
REALITY, KRAGUJEVAC, Serbia
2019
Social sculpture, Lates gallery (arts council funded series curation and exhibition)
Patch of grass public exhibition - Sheffield town hall.
TOURIST, Villars Sur Orlon, Switzerland,
Long Live South Bank restoration, Southbank centre,
Lates’ workshop exhibition.
2018
Festival of the Mind, Sheffield.
RE: EASA exhibition, Rijeka, Croatia 2018/Rijeka City of Culture
The Sheffield Contemporary exhibition,
Abbeydale Picture House Lates’ gallery (Friday program),
Sheffield, Hospitality, Fredericia Denmark,
2016
Sheffield Festival of the Mind Moor Sheffield (public bench project)
Not Yet decided exhibition, Nida, Lithuania,
2015
Tiles exhibition, Sheffield Foodhall.
Theatre Deli Sheffield, Stagehands exhibition
2014
Project Foodhall launch exhibition.
SSOA Exhibition, The Arts Tower
2013
World Architecture Festival - Rethink and renew exhibition Singapore.
Cads Sheffield, WAF works in Snow Lane
2012
Wicker Sheffield Mater-reality exhibition.
2011
Protest Screenprints, The Priory, Middlesex,
2010
Apple Tarts Festival exhibition, Somerset,
FML Wednesday, Brick Lane, London,
2007,
Havering College Art and Design Student Show,
2006,
River Rom,
Plaistow Legal wall,
Marks Gate Abandonned Army Barracks,
Christie's London Solo Show,
Artificial, Design Museum,
John Moores Painting Prize Exhibition, Liverpool,
The Power of Drawing Show, Saint James’ Palace,
Old Queen Street Gallery, Capital at Risk exhibition,
Opening of the City of Sanctuary, Sheffield,
2024
RBA rising stars Show Green Park, London,
Royal Drawing School Summer Show,
Whorl, Pulp Collective Group Show, Stratford,
Apach Group Show Brixton,
Borgo Pignano Residency, Italy,
Dumfries House Residency, Scotland,
2023
Christie’s, London, The Year in Drawing.
Royal Drawing School, The Drawing Year exhibition,
Space Studios Mare Street, Studio Show exhibition,
Manchester Contemporary, Collaborative piece exhibited with Seb Koseda,
Borgo Pignano, Italy, Oil paint landscape exhibition,
Bloc projects, EASA Commons exhibition,
House of Anetta - AB__ workshops, Presentations of the research and drawings.
2022
The Building Centre, Garden of privatised delights exhibition,
City of Sanctuary Sheffield (action-research exhibition),
Crucible Theatre Sheffield - Ark Sheffield, Audio recordings exhibition and stage discussion,
Brown Street, Newhall - action-research exhibition.
Newhall Sheffield, launch,
2020
Venice Biennale, The Garden of Privatised Delights feature in the Studio Polpo pavilion.
REALITY, KRAGUJEVAC, Serbia
2019
Social sculpture, Lates gallery (arts council funded series curation and exhibition)
Patch of grass public exhibition - Sheffield town hall.
TOURIST, Villars Sur Orlon, Switzerland,
Long Live South Bank restoration, Southbank centre,
Lates’ workshop exhibition.
2018
Festival of the Mind, Sheffield.
RE: EASA exhibition, Rijeka, Croatia 2018/Rijeka City of Culture
The Sheffield Contemporary exhibition,
Abbeydale Picture House Lates’ gallery (Friday program),
Sheffield, Hospitality, Fredericia Denmark,
2016
Sheffield Festival of the Mind Moor Sheffield (public bench project)
Not Yet decided exhibition, Nida, Lithuania,
2015
Tiles exhibition, Sheffield Foodhall.
Theatre Deli Sheffield, Stagehands exhibition
2014
Project Foodhall launch exhibition.
SSOA Exhibition, The Arts Tower
2013
World Architecture Festival - Rethink and renew exhibition Singapore.
Cads Sheffield, WAF works in Snow Lane
2012
Wicker Sheffield Mater-reality exhibition.
2011
Protest Screenprints, The Priory, Middlesex,
2010
Apple Tarts Festival exhibition, Somerset,
FML Wednesday, Brick Lane, London,
2007,
Havering College Art and Design Student Show,
2009
Marks Gate community wall,
Marks Gate community wall,
River Rom,
Plaistow Legal wall,
Marks Gate Abandonned Army Barracks,