Café commission: Herfa Thompson, Synapses under a vast sky

Herfa Thompson presents Synapses under a vast sky, a mural that meanders through the Bar & Kitchen spaces at The Tetley.

This work, commissioned especially for these spaces, celebrates the intimacy of sharing food and spending time together, simple pleasures that have been impossible in recent times.

The mural is inspired by local fruit and vegetables, such as rhubarb, the local brewing culture in South Leeds, and specific varieties of Yorkshire apples such as the Ribston Pippin which dates back to 1707.

The Tetley’s café commission presents the first new wall-based artwork especially commissioned for our café, bar and restaurant. Working with an artist based in Leeds, this vibrant, colourful and engaging artwork combines our love for food, contemporary art and Yorkshire. The Tetley’s Bar & Kitchen prioritises using local suppliers, reducing food waste and our carbon footprint.

Paint sourced from Seagulls Reuse
Supported by Garfield Weston Foundation

Herfa Thompson is a London-born artist, currently based in Leeds. She studied Sculpture and Environmental Art at The Glasgow School of Art. Having grown up in Southern Africa, Thompson experienced frustration that her return to the UK was not made to feel like a return home. Her work explores a world where brown bodies are peacefully and joyfully existing, referencing nostalgic memories of her time in Africa and Martinique, as well as exploring the relationship between humans and bodies of water.