Ed Sheeran Swaps the Stage for the Studio in Bold Artistic Debut
Turns out Ed Sheeran doesn’t just make music that tops the charts — he’s been making a mess in the best way possible with paint, too.
The award-winning singer has unveiled a new side of himself, stepping into the world of visual art with a collection of abstract works set to go on display in London. The exhibit, titled Cosmic Carpark Paintings, opens this Friday at Heni Gallery and will run through August 1.
Created in between tour stops, the colorful splatter-style pieces are loud, playful, and bursting with energy — more “painting for fun” than polished gallery fare, which is exactly how Sheeran likes it.
Sharing the news with fans on social media, the 34-year-old revealed he usually paints just to unwind or gift friends, but was nudged into showcasing his work by none other than artist Damien Hirst. He posted a behind-the-scenes video of himself enthusiastically throwing paint across massive canvases, describing the experience as “Jackson Pollock, but with house paint.”
“I don’t consider myself an artist,” he wrote, “but I love making things, and I love how this feels. That’s enough for me.”
The collection, inspired by starry skies and cosmic textures, was put together in a disused carpark in London — hence the name. A portion of the sales will go toward the Ed Sheeran Foundation, which supports music education for young people.
While Sheeran may be better known for hits like Shape of You and Perfect, his creativity clearly spills far beyond the recording studio. In fact, one of his earlier paintings was used as the cover art for his 2020 single Afterglow.
From global tours to paint-splattered floors, Sheeran’s creative streak shows no signs of slowing down — just evolving in unexpected, colorful ways.
