Harold Offeh: Mmm Gotta Try a Little Harder, It Could Be Sweet
15 November 2025 – 1 March 2026, 11am – 5pm
The first major solo exhibition of Harold Offeh’s work in a UK institution, this exhibition will explore two decades of the artist’s videos, performances and projects that have taken place across the world.
For more than twenty years, Offeh (b. 1977, Ghana) has been making playful, provocative performance and video works that explore subjects ranging from pop culture to identity and conformity.
Offeh draws from popular music, film and mainstream cultural trends to interrogate our acceptance of political, class, gender and racial models in society. Recently, his practice has approached themes of happiness, play and Afrofuturism through performance and collective live engagements.
New participatory elements will activate Kettle’s Yard’s galleries, drawing on the input of collaborators and communities through an energetic programme of performances, discussions and events.
About Harold Offeh
Harold Offeh is an artist working in a range of media including performance, video, photography, learning and social arts practice. Offeh is interested in the space created by the inhabiting or embodying of histories. He employs humour as a means to confront the viewer with historical narratives and contemporary culture. He has exhibited widely in the UK and internationally including Tate Britain and Tate Modern, South London Gallery, Turf Projects, London, Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, Wysing Art Centre, Studio Museum Harlem, New York, MAC VAL, France, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Denmark and Art Tower Mito,
He studied Critical Fine Art Practice at The University of Brighton, MA Fine Art Photography at the Royal College of Art and recently completed a PhD by practice exploring the activation of Black Album covers through durational performance. He lives in Cambridge and works in London, UK. He previously held the role of Reader in Fine Art at Leeds Beckett University and was a visiting tutor at Goldsmiths College and The Slade School of Art, UCL, London. He is currently a tutor in MA Contemporary Art Practice at the Royal College of Art.
Gallery
Exhibition Events
Exhibition Opening: Harold Offeh: Mmm Gotta Try a Little Harder, It Could Be Sweet
Join us for the opening of our latest exhibition Harold Offeh: Mmm Gotta Try a Little Harder, It Could Be Sweet. Enjoy a drink with friends at our pay bar, and explore the exhibition after hours.
LATE at Kettle's Yard
Students from Royal College of Art’s MA in Contemporary Art Practice will stage an evening of performance, music, talks, making and more in the context of Harold Offeh’s exhibition Mmm, Gotta Try a Little Harder, It Could be Sweet.
In Conversation and Book Launch: Mmm, Gotta Try a Little Harder, It Could Be Sweet
Join us for an in conversation with Harold Offeh to celebrate the publication of Harold Offeh: Mmm, Gotta Try a Little Harder, it Could Be Sweet.
Day of Performances
Join us for a day of performances at Kettle's Yard by artists Samra Mayanja, Harold Offeh, and others, as you explore the exhibition Harold Offeh: Mmm, Gotta Try a Little Harder, It Could Be Sweet. The day will include a discussion in the galleries around evolving performance practices.
This event is held in collaboration with Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge.
Exhibition Tours
Exhibition Tour with artist Harold Offeh
Join exhibition artist Harold Offeh for an introduction to the current exhibition Harold Offeh: Mmm, Gotta Try a Little Harder, It Could Be Sweet.
Exhibition Tour with Curatorial Assistant Megan Breckell
Join Curatorial Assistant Meg Breckell for an introduction to the current exhibition Harold Offeh: Mmm, Gotta Try a Little Harder, It Could Be Sweet.
Exhibition Tour with Curator Guy Haywood
Join Exhibition Curator Guy Haywood for an introduction to the current exhibition Harold Offeh: Mmm, Gotta Try a Little Harder, It Could Be Sweet.
This exhibition has been kindly supported by
Royal College of Art’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Dissemination Fund
Mmm Gotta Try a Little Harder, It Could Be Sweet Supporters Circle:
Carol Atack and Alex van Someren
Emma Davis
Penny Heath
Sabine Jaccaud
Nicki and Christie Marrian
And all those who choose to remain anonymous
PAINT SPONSOR:
Access
- The galleries, where exhibitions are shown, and all areas of the Clore Learning Studio (level -1), the Research Space (level 1) and the Ede Room (level 2) are fully accessible.
- We have wheelchair accessible toilets on the lower ground (level -1), ground and first floor (level 1).
- There is a lift giving access to all floors located past the galleries, just beside the Clore Learning Studio on the ground floor.
- Kettle’s Yard welcomes assistance and service dogs in all areas.
- We have large-print versions of the wall text available.
- We can lend visitors small folding seats for taking around exhibitions or using at non-seated events. Please ask a Visitor Assistant for help finding a seat.
