Ed Sheeran

As a musician, Ed Sheeran fills stadiums around the world; as a painter, he fills canvases—with the same energy and passion for rhythm and emotion. In 2019, shortly after the end of his record-breaking "Divide" tour, Sheeran discovered painting as a creative counterbalance to music. It soon became a regular part of his creative routine. An early testament to this phase is the cover of his 2020 single Afterglow, based on one of his abstract paintings.

In 2024, during his "Mathematics" tour, Sheeran intensified his practice: in a disused parking garage in London’s Soho district, he set up a makeshift studio. Every morning, clad in a white protective suit, he spent hours experimenting with color on large canvases—dynamic, gestural, spontaneous. From this emerged his first cohesive series: The Cosmic Carpark Paintings.

While echoes of Jackson Pollock are unmistakable, Sheeran’s paintings carry their own distinct rhythm—and a clear stance. Where Pollock elevated the act of painting into pure gesture, Sheeran transforms it into a symphony of chromatic tones: lines, drips, and layers driven by the same internal rhythm that animates his music. Chaos and order, explosion and stillness: a dance that feels as intuitive as it is considered.

It was only the idea that painting could open doors not just for himself but for others that convinced Sheeran to go public. With the support of friend Damien Hirst, he presented a selection of original works and limited editions in London in 2025. The response was overwhelming: over $1.25 million was raised, entirely benefiting the Ed Sheeran Foundation, which provides inclusive, high-quality music education to children and young people across the UK. “I loved the idea of art funding art,” Sheeran said—a principle that seamlessly connects his two creative worlds.

In The Cosmic Carpark Paintings, the radiance of a global music icon merges with the expressive power of contemporary painting. And its impact extends far beyond the canvas: these works don’t just offer new perspectives—they open up new possibilities.