Making It: Alfie Kungu

Alfie Kungu is a painter based in Leeds working across large-scale canvases and unconventional surfaces. His work explores dance, fluidity, and bodies in motion, using whatever materials and spaces are available to him. He uses old clothes rails instead of expensive stretchers, making resourcefulness part of his practice.

Upgrade Yourself presenter Betty Douglas visits Alfie in a studio in the north of England, where they work together on one of his latest paintings.

The foundation of Alfie's practice is volume and persistence. In this film he shares details of how he produces a large body of work, knowing that many pieces won't achieve what he intended. He has developed an authentic style and confidence in his practice emerged by learning through the work that was less successful.

Moving from London to Leeds taught him that location and resources directly shape what's possible and having access to a studio space has transformed his ability to work at scale. Part of his success is rooted in protecting his vision by saying no to opportunities that don't align. And that building genuine community with artists he admires sustains the work long term and building a creative community around his has enabled a sustainable art pracitce.