Ed Sheeran to Auction His Pollock‑Inspired “Cosmic Carpark” Paintings for Music‑Education Charity

9 July 2025

Ed Sheeran. Credit : teddysphotos/Instagram (2)

In an unexpected creative pivot, global pop star Ed Sheeran is turning onlookers into collectors by selling his bold, Pollock‑style abstract paintings to benefit his eponymous charity. In a collaboration with Heni Gallery affiliated with Damien Hirst, Sheeran will present “Cosmic Carpark Paintings,” a vibrant collection painted in a disused Soho parking lot during breaks between tours and studio sessions. Each piece, splashed with household paint on large canvases, echoes the action‑painting energy of the abstract expressionists, while maintaining Sheeran’s own artistic voice rooted in celestial fascination and raw spontaneity.

Running from July 11 to August 1 at Heni Gallery in central London, the exhibition will feature both original canvases and limited‑edition prints, priced at just over £900 (around $1,220) apiece. With half the proceeds from sales directed to the Ed Sheeran Foundation, the initiative is firmly grounded in purpose. The foundation supports music education in UK state schools and grassroots programmes projects Sheeran passionately advocates for, including campaigning alongside fellow artists for a dedicated £250 million government investment in music instruction.

Sheeran’s approach is at once casual and committed. Describing his process, he said he would “run to a disused car park in Soho each morning, paint, then run home” a routine he sustained until scheduling demands pulled him away. The paintings’ titles such as “Unfolding Cosmos” and “Starlight Canvas Dream” draw inspiration from cosmic forms, suggestive of Sheeran’s tendency toward broad and expressive thematic exploration.

While already an accomplished musician, Sheeran’s art is not a publicity stunt, it is an authentic extension of his creative spirit. His parents were actively involved in the visual arts, running an art consultancy throughout his childhood. He previously applied his painterly skills to his musical work, creating artwork for his 2021 single “Afterglow” and using Hirst’s spinning wheel for the Divide album visuals. The Guardian reports that friends and mentors like Damien Hirst and Joe Hage encouraged him to showcase these works publicly with an altruistic goal in mind.

Though Sheeran cautions against viewing his art as an investment asset echoing his father’s philosophy that art should be enjoyed rather than traded, he has previously leveraged his paintings for charity. His first paid painting fetched £40,000, and a 2021 raffle raised £50,000 for cancer support. Now, his multi‑canvas showcase at Heni may amplify that success many times over.

Critics have weighed in as well. Omni’s Jonathan Jones praised the concept but noted the works may lack the emotional depth and technical precision of seasoned abstract artists. Yet given the accessible price point and All‑Star institutional backing, the exhibition is poised to draw a mix of music fans, art collectors, and philanthropists alike.

Beyond the gallery walls, the significance of Sheeran’s decision reverberates through the intersections of celebrity, art, and societal benefit. His foundation’s mission to bolster music education resonates amid growing concerns that UK state schools have lost 21 percent of their music provision in recent years. By inviting audiences to participate through art acquisition, Sheeran broadens the pathways through which his celebrity can translate into cultural and educational impact.

As he gears up for his next album, Play, scheduled for release in September, this art exhibit adds another layer to his artistic identity. It presents a fresh chapter, one where his editor’s voice notes and guitar riffs coexist with spontaneous brushstrokes and chalky paint splatters under urban skies.

In short, the “Cosmic Carpark Paintings” exhibition is more than a side project; it is a testament to Ed Sheeran’s multi‑disciplinary creativity and enduring commitment to the arts. By turning raw inspiration into tangible support for music teachers and young musicians, he is reshaping what it means to be an artist in the modern age.