What New Artworks Can You See At The Ferens Art Gallery In Hull?

If you’re looking for something new to see in Hull, the Ferens Art Gallery has just the thing. From 17 December 2025, two brand new pieces have joined its permanent collection, meaning they’re here to stay. These aren’t just any artworks; they're powerful contemporary pieces by artists Abe Odedina and Emma Stibbon that were a big hit in the 'Sirens: Women and the Sea' exhibition earlier this year. The paintings, titled Madame La Sirene and Drift Ice, are now waiting for visitors in gallery nine. One tells a story of ancient mythology and powerful sea spirits, while the other transports you to the freezing, fragile landscapes of Antarctica. It's a tale of two very different, but equally powerful, connections to the sea.

Meet Madame La Sirene, a story in a painting

First up is Madame La Sirene, a captivating painting by the artist Abe Odedina. Fun fact: Abe Odedina has a special connection to Hull, having studied Architecture in the city before his art career took off internationally. His style is a real mix of things. Imagine blending traditional folk art – the kind of art made by everyday people, full of character – with grand stories from mythology and scenes from normal life. He draws inspiration from everything from old Renaissance portraits to colourful Pop Art. What's really special about his artworks is how they weave together stories from different cultures, exploring how traditions are passed down through communities.

His 2024 painting, Madame La Sirene, is a perfect example. It's not just a picture of a mermaid; it’s about a powerful spirit of the ocean. The piece explores tales from Yoruba, Haitian, and even Ancient Greece mythology. The artist brings these separate cultures together in one amazing image. Think of it like a superhero origin story, but for a mythical sea goddess. The painting speaks volumes about how different parts of the world have their own legends about the sea. Abe Odedina, as an artist, brilliantly connects these ideas. And his painting for the Ferens Art Gallery collection is a stunning example of that.

The artist himself described her power perfectly:

“A force of Nature, she signifies life and fertility within the ocean - its irresistible and sometimes destructive power - and owns all of its riches and mysteries. Rare are cultures that do not have legends of hybrid beings that are half-human and half-fish. They seem to speak powerfully to us, reminding us of our ancestral origins from ancient bodies of water, or even the waters of the womb. She has been richly nourished by irrepressible African, European and indigenous Taino stories of powerful water spirits, gaining extraordinary spiritual acumen from Mami Wata, whilst acquiring her name as well as her sweet but devasting singing voice from European mythology.”

Feel the chill with Emma Stibbon's Drift Ice

Now, let's switch from myth and legend to the raw, real power of nature. The second new piece is Drift Ice by Emma Stibbon. Emma Stibbon is a Royal Academician, which is a big deal in the art world. It means she's recognised as one of the best. Her work is all about places that are going through a big change. And to do this, she travels to some of the most extreme environments on Earth.

She’s been an artist in residence everywhere, from volcanic parks in Hawaii to the icy wilderness of Antarctica. She’s even been on an expedition to the Arctic Circle. She doesn't just paint these places; she experiences them. Over the past 20 years of visiting these polar regions, Stibbon has seen the effects of climate change with her own eyes. She has watched the landscape of ice recede, with huge glaciers melting away. This first-hand experience makes her artworks incredibly powerful. Her work often highlights the effects of coastal erosion and rising sea levels. The artist creates a connection between her subject and her medium, sometimes mixing geological materials like volcanic ash or sea water into her large-scale drawings. This is art that really makes you think about environmental change.

Her 2014 piece, Drift Ice, captures the haunting beauty of Antarctica. It’s a huge work on paper that makes you feel the cold and wonder of the icy landscape. The artist Stibbon created it after a trip where she saw the massive sheets of ice floating in the sea. It’s a beautiful but also slightly worrying image, a reminder of what is at stake with climate change and the melting of the world's ice.

Here’s what Emma Stibbon said about creating the drawing:

“I made ‘Drift Ice’ in 2014 shortly after being in Antarctica on a residency organised by the Friends of Scott Polar Research Institute and HMS Protector Artist Placement in Antarctica. Witnessing the drift ice from the ship was almost mirage like - passing through the strange, ethereal light I wanted to respond to the incredible wonder and beauty of Antarctica. My drawing ‘Drift Ice’ is part of an ongoing series of works looking at the polar regions, I want to pay homage to the world’s largest ice sheets and glaciers that now are at the forefront of climate change.”

Why these contemporary artworks are a big deal for the Ferens collection

So, why these two specific artworks? It turns out they’re a perfect fit for the Ferens Art Gallery. The gallery has a long history of collecting Maritime Art. Thanks to a special pot of money called the Endowment Fund, left by the gallery's founder Thomas Ferens, the gallery can continue to buy important art for the people of Hull to enjoy. This fund is how the gallery was able to secure these incredible contemporary pieces for its permanent collection.

Councillor Rob Pritchard, who is in charge of culture and leisure, explained the importance of adding these pieces to the Hull collection.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to secure these two fantastic artworks for the Ferens’ collection using the Endowment Fund left for Hull by gallery founder Thomas Ferens. The early artworks he acquired for the people of Hull included maritime subjects such as Herbert James Draper’s iconic ‘Ulysses and the Sirens’ and have resulted in the creation of a Designated Maritime Art collection of local, national and international significance. We are very pleased to be able to add Emma Stibbon and Abe Odedina’s works to this, continuing the story of Maritime art and bringing fresh perspectives to the collection for the people of Hull to enjoy and engage with.”

What’s brilliant is how these new artworks bring the gallery’s famous Maritime Art collection right up to date. The gallery already had famous paintings about the sea and mythology. Now, with Madame La Sirene, it has a modern take on those ancient stories, looking at them through the eyes of different cultures. And with Drift Ice, the collection now looks at the sea not just as a place of myth or history, but as a crucial part of our planet facing a massive change. It’s a way of showing that the story of our relationship with the sea is always evolving. These pieces ensure the national significance of the gallery's collection continues to grow.