Body Found in Search for Missing British Artist Sarah Cunningham

Artist Sarah Cunningham delivering a talk at Lisson Gallery in 2024 (screenshot by Isa Farfan/Hyperallergic via Vimeo)

This morning, November 4, London police announced that a body was found on the subway tracks while they were looking for 31-year-old British artist Sarah Cunningham, who was last seen early Saturday.

The Camden Police are waiting for the formal identification of the body. The family of Cunningham has been informed, as stated in a news announcement posted on X.

A representative from London Metro Police told Hyperallergic that they have withdrawn their public appeal for information about Cunningham's disappearance. According to the police, the artist's family has requested privacy as they navigate this challenging period.

Camden Police stated that while the death is considered unforeseen, it is currently not believed to be suspicious.

Cunningham was last spotted at approximately 3am on Saturday, November 2. On November 3, his gallery, Lisson, made a public request on Instagram for anyone who might have information about the artist's location to step forward.

“The gallery urges anyone who may have seen or heard something or has any information about Sarah's location to urgently reach out to us or the Metropolitan Police,” stated the gallery. Hyperallergic has reached out to Lisson Gallery for further details.

According to the police, Cunningham was last spotted strolling along Jamestown Road dressed entirely in black in the Camden area. This location is roughly a 12-minute walk from the Chalk Farm Underground Station, where the body was discovered.

Cunningham, who came into the world in Nottingham in 1993, earned a Master’s degree in painting from the Royal College of Art in London in 2022. The next year, she became part of the group of contemporary artists represented by Lisson Gallery, which has branches in London, Los Angeles, New York, Shanghai, and Beijing. Her debut exhibition at the gallery, titled The Crystal Forest, was launched in 2023 and showcased her distinctive, multi-layered abstract paintings that reflect natural landscapes.

This summer, Cunningham held her initial exhibition in Los Angeles, called Flight Paths. The show showcased her dynamic and spontaneous painting style through a collection of pieces created in 2024. As noted on the gallery's website, Cunningham typically works at night.

This is an ongoing story and will be revised as fresh details emerge.

Isa Farfan has just completed her studies at Barnard College, focusing on Political Science and English. During her time there, she took on the role of Arts & Culture editor for the Columbia Daily Spectator. Originally from the Bay Area, she... More by Isa Farfan