Introducing Contemporary Collective x Bankside Autumn Artist Residency ft. Lyra Morgan
Artists in Residence: 27th August - 5th October 2025
Bankside Hotel, Art Yard Studio, London SE1 9JU
Bankside Hotel x Contemporary Collective are thrilled to welcome British painter Lyra Morgan as their Autumn Artist in Residence. From late August to early October, Lyra will transform the Art Yard Studio into a vibrant, meditative space for her residency concept, ‘Be Still in Flow’, a celebration of water’s beauty, energy, and timeless cycle.
Lyra’s residency is a meditation on the nature of water and how it connects us, shaping our lives through its ever-changing forms. Relating most things back to water in a philosophical, spiritual, or literal way, her contemplations become the foundation for her painterly process. Through colour, texture, and movement she translates these reflections into paint, with each piece serving as a meditative immersion beside the flow of the Thames.
Working in her signature process-led style, Lyra embeds the river directly into her practice. Every painting she creates during the residency will contain at least one drop of Thames water: “I see the Thames as a living being, a flowing thread that connects us all to each other and to nature.”
Drawing on Impressionist influences, Lyra’s paintings hold both stillness and motion in the same breath. Visitors to the Art Yard Studio can expect an immersive experience inspired by the river, with the sound of water and river-themed music, historic Thames imagery from artists such as Turner and Monet, and walls alive with shifting colour.
As part of her residency, Lyra will feature in this year’s Thames Festival with an open studio programme for the month of September, inviting the public to step inside her workspace and see her process unfold. The festival also includes a drinks reception on Thursday 18th September, offering visitors the chance to meet Lyra and hear about her work first-hand. Find full details about both the open studio and reception here.
Lyra’s residency will conclude with a Public Viewing on Thursday, 2nd October, showcasing the full body of work created during her time at Bankside. Follow her journey and stay up to date with all residency-related news via @Contemporary_Collective on Instagram.
About Lyra's Practice:
Lyra Morgan’s paintings evoke the sense of calm she feels during their creation, transforming the spaces they inhabit. The representation of water through paint and process is a constant thread in her work, driven by her fascination with its transient nature - a substance that can take many forms yet also remain formless. The Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi, embracing the beauty of serendipity, is central to her practice. Through her love of colour, Lyra builds atmosphere in layers, using mixed media and a distinctive non-brush technique to make each piece truly unique. Every work is instinctively balanced in composition, evolving organically as she allows the creative process to flow freely.
View the full collection of Lyra's artworks
Lyra's End of Residency Collection Launch: Thursday 2nd October 2025, 6-8 pm, Art Yard Studio @ Bankside Hotel
Join us for the first official view of Lyra's residency collection. Created during her 2025 autumn artist residency at the Bankside Hotel, this exclusive collection embodies her unique experience in the space and the development of her practice. At the collection launch, attendees will have the chance to view all of the completed artworks for the very first time and hear from Lyra about her experience in residence.
Residency Partners:
For any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Jenna Sachs: [email protected] / 020 3701 7412 / www.DegreeArt.com
