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Group Exhibition at Sunny Bank Mills
I am pleased to be exhibiting at Let Us See You: A Citywide Artistic Journey at Sunny Bank Mills
The final stop of Let Us See You arrives at Sunny Bank Mills, showcasing the vibrant creativity of local artists. Featuring an inspiring mix of paintings, prints, and sculpture, the exhibition brings together work produced over the past year through a series of community workshops.
Supported by Leeds Inspired and Aire Place Studios, this celebratory show runs until Sunday 23rd February, and is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm.
Sunny Bank Mills, 83–85 Town Street, Farsley, Pudsey, LS28 5UJ
The final stop of Let Us See You arrives at Sunny Bank Mills, showcasing the vibrant creativity of local artists. Featuring an inspiring mix of paintings, prints, and sculpture, the exhibition brings together work produced over the past year through a series of community workshops.
Supported by Leeds Inspired and Aire Place Studios, this celebratory show runs until Sunday 23rd February, and is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm.
Sunny Bank Mills, 83–85 Town Street, Farsley, Pudsey, LS28 5UJ
Global Muses curated by Laura Day Webb
I am pleased to be exhibiting in London! Global Muses curated by Laura Day Webb stands as a tribute to the resilience, innovation, and boundless creativity of female artists across the globe. Featuring a diverse array of works by Ayobola Kekere Ekun, Azzah Sultan, Djeneba Aduayom, Pamela Enyonu, Sarah Francis, Soumya Netrabile, and Umseme Uyakhuluma, the exhibition celebrates the expansive scope of their artistic expression and the myriad mediums through which they channel their vision.
At its core, the exhibition spotlights female artists represented by female gallerists or working independently within a supportive community of women, reflecting a conscious effort to address the imperative for greater visibility and equal representation within the art sphere. This initiative also serves to delve deeper into the dynamic interplay within this women-centric ecosystem, captured through filmed dialogues between artists and gallerists, offering insight into their symbiotic relationships and mutual inspiration.
With its curated selection of artworks, multimedia elements, and a steadfast commitment to inclusivity, Global Muses aims to ignite inspiration, provoke engagement, and foster a renewed dedication to an art world that flourishes through its rich tapestry of diversity and collaborative spirit.
Online via #VorticArt until 3 January. 2025
The House of KOKO until 17 October,
At its core, the exhibition spotlights female artists represented by female gallerists or working independently within a supportive community of women, reflecting a conscious effort to address the imperative for greater visibility and equal representation within the art sphere. This initiative also serves to delve deeper into the dynamic interplay within this women-centric ecosystem, captured through filmed dialogues between artists and gallerists, offering insight into their symbiotic relationships and mutual inspiration.
With its curated selection of artworks, multimedia elements, and a steadfast commitment to inclusivity, Global Muses aims to ignite inspiration, provoke engagement, and foster a renewed dedication to an art world that flourishes through its rich tapestry of diversity and collaborative spirit.
Online via #VorticArt until 3 January. 2025
The House of KOKO until 17 October,
Open Studios
I'm excited to invite you to visit my new studio space during the upcoming Open Studios event at The Other Studios! Join me on Saturday 30th November 2024, between 11am and 4pm, for an afternoon of creativity, conversation, and connection.
This is a great chance to explore the space where I create, see my latest works-in-progress, and get a behind-the-scenes look at my artistic process. I’ll be there to chat about current projects, answer questions, and offer a selection of artworks available to purchase directly.
Whether you’ve followed my work for a while or are just discovering it, I’d love to welcome you in. Pop by, say hello, and enjoy the buzz of a creative community.
The Other Studios, Swinnow Grange Mills, Leeds, LS13 4EP
Free Entry
This is a great chance to explore the space where I create, see my latest works-in-progress, and get a behind-the-scenes look at my artistic process. I’ll be there to chat about current projects, answer questions, and offer a selection of artworks available to purchase directly.
Whether you’ve followed my work for a while or are just discovering it, I’d love to welcome you in. Pop by, say hello, and enjoy the buzz of a creative community.
The Other Studios, Swinnow Grange Mills, Leeds, LS13 4EP
Free Entry
Catherine Opie & My Art
I wanted to share some incredibly exciting news with you all. It's always such a rewarding experience as an artist to know that my work is finding its way into new homes and collections, and discovering where these pieces end up is truly amazing.
I recently learned that my piece, "Resent Bodies Yellow," has been added to the permanent collection at the Leslie Lohman Gallery in New York. This is such an honor, and I am deeply grateful that my work will be part of your esteemed collection.
Furthermore, I was thrilled to find out that Catherine Opie, an artist whose work I have admired immensely since my university days studying photography, now owns one of my pieces, "Their Bodies 3." Knowing that someone whose artistic vision I respect so much has connected with my work in this way is particularly meaningful to me.
I recently learned that my piece, "Resent Bodies Yellow," has been added to the permanent collection at the Leslie Lohman Gallery in New York. This is such an honor, and I am deeply grateful that my work will be part of your esteemed collection.
Furthermore, I was thrilled to find out that Catherine Opie, an artist whose work I have admired immensely since my university days studying photography, now owns one of my pieces, "Their Bodies 3." Knowing that someone whose artistic vision I respect so much has connected with my work in this way is particularly meaningful to me.
Panel At Leeds Art Gallery
I am pleased to be leading an artist talk at Leeds Art Gallery. Talking honestly about money is not always an easy thing. In the art world we are told to fake it until we make it – but what is this really doing to our self esteem? Our Imposter syndrome? How can we have realistic expectations on how to make it? What even is ‘making it’?
After many years being a creative, talking to creatives, holding groups with creatives I can safely say no one has a clue. All this faking we are making is just not the kindness in the world we need. We have collectively set ourselves up to fail. So let’s start looking at how we can change this!
Going Dutch will focus on who is picking up the bill at the end of the day. It will be a frank and honest chat by different kinds of creatives on how they make their living, what their day job really is, and highlight different routes into sustainable and realistic creative practices.
Most importantly we look at reframing what sustainability really is. As we also need to look at some hard truths of how we as creatives need to make changes in how, why and what we are doing – we need to start looking after each other. We often throw statements like ‘The world does not value artists’ ‘We should be paying artists!’ but on the other hand say ‘I’m not paying for that, it should be free!’. Who is picking up this bill, being undervalued, being asked to work for free? Guess who – yes it’s me, the artist. Most spaces that offer opportunities and open calls are generally run by artists trying to pay their rent and bills to keep their creative practice sustainable. So being undervalued for your time, effort and experiences does sting.
Going Dutch is the start of a conversation about transparency, about accountability and about working collaboratively and collectively.
After many years being a creative, talking to creatives, holding groups with creatives I can safely say no one has a clue. All this faking we are making is just not the kindness in the world we need. We have collectively set ourselves up to fail. So let’s start looking at how we can change this!
Going Dutch will focus on who is picking up the bill at the end of the day. It will be a frank and honest chat by different kinds of creatives on how they make their living, what their day job really is, and highlight different routes into sustainable and realistic creative practices.
Most importantly we look at reframing what sustainability really is. As we also need to look at some hard truths of how we as creatives need to make changes in how, why and what we are doing – we need to start looking after each other. We often throw statements like ‘The world does not value artists’ ‘We should be paying artists!’ but on the other hand say ‘I’m not paying for that, it should be free!’. Who is picking up this bill, being undervalued, being asked to work for free? Guess who – yes it’s me, the artist. Most spaces that offer opportunities and open calls are generally run by artists trying to pay their rent and bills to keep their creative practice sustainable. So being undervalued for your time, effort and experiences does sting.
Going Dutch is the start of a conversation about transparency, about accountability and about working collaboratively and collectively.
Dreaming Of Home- Perspectives of Queer Domesticity
I am pleased to be exhibiting in New York! Dreaming of Home brings together twenty contemporary artists whose work invokes the comforts and complications of queer and trans domestic life across international and intergenerational perspectives. The exhibition springboards from Catherine Opie’s seminal image Self-Portrait/Cutting (1993), which viscerally highlights the dissonances experienced by queer people, whose desire to live and thrive routinely faces brutal restrictions, and for whom society’s idealization of nuclear family is painfully, somatically borne. In the thirty years since Opie made this photograph, LGBTQIA+ people have experienced rapid and tumultuous legal and social shifts in the United States and globally, demonstrating that, in most geographic and cultural contexts, the questions posed by Opie’s work remain relevant and urgent. Where can we feel at home; in our skin, in each other’s embrace, amongst our chosen families? Where are our queer and trans bodies safe, housed, and free to be themselves? Following in Opie’s footsteps, each artist centralizes the queer body in their work, carving space for themselves and their kin to live and thrive.
Participating artists: Shadi Al-Atallah, Leilah Babirye, Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, Whiskey Chow, Zackary Drucker and Amos Mac, Nicole Eisenman, Sarah Francis, Jenna Gribbon, Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, Clifford Prince King, Rene Matić, Sola Olulode, Catherine Opie, Laurence Philomene, Charmaine Poh, Christina Quarles, Ro Roberston, Chiffon Thomas, and Cajsa von Zeipel.
Curated by Gemma Rolls-Bentley.
The exhibition is accompanied by a limited series podcast, Dreaming of Home. Prioritizing artist-centered dialogues, the series dives into the themes of queer home with featured artists in the group exhibition, including Catherine Opie, Jenna Gribbon, Christina Quarles, and Rene Matić, in conversation with Rolls-Bentley and Museum art workers.
Exhibition: September 7, 2023 - January 7, 2024
Participating artists: Shadi Al-Atallah, Leilah Babirye, Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, Whiskey Chow, Zackary Drucker and Amos Mac, Nicole Eisenman, Sarah Francis, Jenna Gribbon, Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, Clifford Prince King, Rene Matić, Sola Olulode, Catherine Opie, Laurence Philomene, Charmaine Poh, Christina Quarles, Ro Roberston, Chiffon Thomas, and Cajsa von Zeipel.
Curated by Gemma Rolls-Bentley.
The exhibition is accompanied by a limited series podcast, Dreaming of Home. Prioritizing artist-centered dialogues, the series dives into the themes of queer home with featured artists in the group exhibition, including Catherine Opie, Jenna Gribbon, Christina Quarles, and Rene Matić, in conversation with Rolls-Bentley and Museum art workers.
Exhibition: September 7, 2023 - January 7, 2024
The Artist & The Other BAN supported seminar
I am excited to be leading a round table. Artist and Curator, Sarah Francis convened the BAN supported seminar ‘The Artist and the Other’ at Leeds Art Gallery on Monday 13 November 2-4pm. Jo Verrent, Director of Unlimited was guest speaker. Live Captions were provided by Live Captioning UK Ltd.
The Artist and the Other’ Seminar considered the following prompts tabled by Sarah Francis:
Does implementing a ‘diversity’ focus on exhibitions and call-outs primarily foreground the ‘other’ characteristics of an artist, rather than allowing the artwork (and artist) to speak?
What shift does ‘othering’ have on audiences’ and curators’ perceptions of an artist and their work?
How can we support diversity and inclusion without resorting to tokenism or ‘othering’ artists?
How do we make sure artists’ work gets due attention and recognition?
Sarah introduced the Seminar by sharing her own perspective as an artist and curator. Guest speaker Jo Verrent discussed their experience as Director of Unlimited in supporting artists with disabilities to achieve recognition and effective working conditions and pay.
An invited group of thirteen participants shared their views and reflections on the topics raised. The seminar was a relaxed round table event, a space for those attending to help shape and propel the conversation about the benefits or hindrance of implementing a diversity focus within the visual arts, working to ensure that artists’ work is valued and recognised for its artistic merit.
The Artist and the Other’ Seminar considered the following prompts tabled by Sarah Francis:
Does implementing a ‘diversity’ focus on exhibitions and call-outs primarily foreground the ‘other’ characteristics of an artist, rather than allowing the artwork (and artist) to speak?
What shift does ‘othering’ have on audiences’ and curators’ perceptions of an artist and their work?
How can we support diversity and inclusion without resorting to tokenism or ‘othering’ artists?
How do we make sure artists’ work gets due attention and recognition?
Sarah introduced the Seminar by sharing her own perspective as an artist and curator. Guest speaker Jo Verrent discussed their experience as Director of Unlimited in supporting artists with disabilities to achieve recognition and effective working conditions and pay.
An invited group of thirteen participants shared their views and reflections on the topics raised. The seminar was a relaxed round table event, a space for those attending to help shape and propel the conversation about the benefits or hindrance of implementing a diversity focus within the visual arts, working to ensure that artists’ work is valued and recognised for its artistic merit.
Agency of Realised Worlds
I am Proud to Present Agency of Realised Worlds inpartnership with Ort Gallery and ICF
An exhibition that celebrates the life work of the Artist Clement Archibald. I invite you to take a first look at Clem’s vibrant and bold paintings that span over 60 years. Clem is a skilled self-taught artist in his seventies who has lived in LS4 since arriving from St Kitts aged 8 years old.
This exhibition is a collaboration between Artist Clement Archibald and Curator Sarah Francis, that which explores and showcases his Archibald’s unseen painting spanning six decades. Two different creatives, two different socio-cultural perspectives, with a shared sense of the different worlds realised through art and making. The project has spanned 12 months, curating the stories and paintings that represent different stages of Clement’s life and experiences. An autobiographical journey of an artist almost left behind by barriers in the cultural world, showcasing his incredible, underappreciated talent.
Exhibition Dates: 23 June – 25 August 2023.
“Art has the power to transport an artist from a world they feel a sense of unbelonging in, into a world of their own imagination, of safety and where they can share their stories. A world where they can be their authentic selves without the fear of prejudice, and harm from others. A world that is unashamedly the WE we seek. These worlds we create carry transformative powers to be able to translate these stories into the real world, so that we can connect, relate, and be moved with exploration. Agency of Realised worlds explores the talented work of Clem, a proud Leeds artist we should all be celebrating. His art is saturated in Leeds history and an untold personal connection which he explores in his paintings. I have been a privileged guest inside Clem’s world and I am so thrilled to be permitted to showcase his paintings in this exhibition. His artwork should be in collections, and I hope that after 60 years this exhibition can form the start of his legacy and a shift in finding and platforming our hidden voices within Leeds.”
An exhibition that celebrates the life work of the Artist Clement Archibald. I invite you to take a first look at Clem’s vibrant and bold paintings that span over 60 years. Clem is a skilled self-taught artist in his seventies who has lived in LS4 since arriving from St Kitts aged 8 years old.
This exhibition is a collaboration between Artist Clement Archibald and Curator Sarah Francis, that which explores and showcases his Archibald’s unseen painting spanning six decades. Two different creatives, two different socio-cultural perspectives, with a shared sense of the different worlds realised through art and making. The project has spanned 12 months, curating the stories and paintings that represent different stages of Clement’s life and experiences. An autobiographical journey of an artist almost left behind by barriers in the cultural world, showcasing his incredible, underappreciated talent.
Exhibition Dates: 23 June – 25 August 2023.
“Art has the power to transport an artist from a world they feel a sense of unbelonging in, into a world of their own imagination, of safety and where they can share their stories. A world where they can be their authentic selves without the fear of prejudice, and harm from others. A world that is unashamedly the WE we seek. These worlds we create carry transformative powers to be able to translate these stories into the real world, so that we can connect, relate, and be moved with exploration. Agency of Realised worlds explores the talented work of Clem, a proud Leeds artist we should all be celebrating. His art is saturated in Leeds history and an untold personal connection which he explores in his paintings. I have been a privileged guest inside Clem’s world and I am so thrilled to be permitted to showcase his paintings in this exhibition. His artwork should be in collections, and I hope that after 60 years this exhibition can form the start of his legacy and a shift in finding and platforming our hidden voices within Leeds.”
A-N Artists Council Member
I'm proud to announce I have been selected to be part of the A-N Artists Council! Artists Council is an advisory group to the Board and Executive of a-n. Over a three-year term, Council members will play a key role in driving the direction of a-n’s advocacy, research and programme activities, with a focus on the leadership development of artists. Artists Council meets four times a year to voice the concerns of artists in their networks and communities, and to take part in a Leadership Development programme developed by a-n in partnership with Clore Leadership.
TINY at APS Gallery
I am pleased to be exhibiting in Leeds! From 1st to 15th December, APS Gallery proudly presents tiny, an exhibition celebrating the magic of miniature artworks. As the festive season approaches, this is the perfect opportunity to find a special, small-scale gift—or simply treat yourself.
Step into a space filled with awe, curiosity, and sparkle, where every tiny piece invites joy and wonder.
APS Gallery, Aire Place Studios, Kirkstall Road, Leeds, LS3 1JL
Open Fridays, 11am – 5pm
Step into a space filled with awe, curiosity, and sparkle, where every tiny piece invites joy and wonder.
APS Gallery, Aire Place Studios, Kirkstall Road, Leeds, LS3 1JL
Open Fridays, 11am – 5pm
The Artist & The Other Curated by Sarah Francis
I’m proud to present The Artist & The Other, an exhibition featuring four Leeds-based artists from diverse backgrounds. This project builds on Aire Place Studios’ commitment to supporting creatives who face barriers to participation in the arts.
While significant progress has been made to champion artists from marginalised communities, this exhibition invites us to reflect: at what point does the artist’s identity risk overshadowing the artwork itself?
Through these powerful works, we encourage viewers to engage with this question and join the conversation on how we can foster greater awareness and appreciation of diversity—not just in who creates art, but in how it is valued.
Supported by Leeds Inspired, part of Leeds City Council.
Aire Place Studios, Kirkstall Road, Leeds, LS3 1JL
While significant progress has been made to champion artists from marginalised communities, this exhibition invites us to reflect: at what point does the artist’s identity risk overshadowing the artwork itself?
Through these powerful works, we encourage viewers to engage with this question and join the conversation on how we can foster greater awareness and appreciation of diversity—not just in who creates art, but in how it is valued.
Supported by Leeds Inspired, part of Leeds City Council.
Aire Place Studios, Kirkstall Road, Leeds, LS3 1JL
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