Lara Rose is a Leeds visual artist, sculptor, poet, author, singer, and songwriter with roots in Yoruba culture. In March 2021, her poetry was published in the anthology, Weighted Words by Peepal Tree Press following her first book, Victory the Other Side – 24 Simple Tips to Keep Going Daily, published in 2016. Lara recently graduated from her PhD studies and was awarded the title of Dr of Philosophy, creating the first life size sculpture of a black woman in Leeds, that of Dr Geraldine Connor. Her research focuses on how Yoruba culture influences artistic practices in Leeds, including assemblage installation, sculpture, carnival, music production, Yoruba oriki (praise songs) and the role of wordplay. She coined the term “Afropolitan melodies” and “Afro Dada” fusing Yoruba and English languages and culture in her writing, musical and artistic practice. Lara was also a part of Geraldine Connor’s phantasmagorical Carnival Messiah, at Harewood House and Royal Albert Hall and is a Creative Associate of the Geraldine Connor Foundation.
