Shape Open is our annual exhibition of artwork by disabled and non-disabled artists created in response to a disability-centred theme.

This year titled “In Circles”, this group exhibition of artwork will respond to the question: are we going around in circles?

Disability Arts and the mainstream have long run parallel to one another whilst rarely converging. The conversations surrounding this divide have seemingly circled but what has come of it? Where are our points of connection and commonality?

How do we widen the conversation about disability and how do we continue to navigate society and diversify the lived experiences told, in particular those of disabled people. With the common axis of disability, do you feel like the same questions and answers are endlessly repeating?

The artists chosen have responded in a variety of art forms to the above and we will be showcasing this work at Bow Arts’ Nunnery Gallery from Friday 6^th September until Thursday 19^th September, 10am to 5pm.

There will be a Private View on Thursday 5^th September from 6.30 – 8.30pm, which is open to the public.

This year’s exhibiting artists are:

Tony Allen, Richard Amm, Faith Bebbington, Coreen Bernard, Lizz Brady, Claire Callow, Sam Castell-Ward, Annie Ho Cooper, Daisy Cowley, Nikki Davidson-Bowman, Catriona Faulkner, Alice Rose Floyd, Steven Fraser, CL Gamble, Laura Graham, Michael Gurhy, Steven Hardy, Jack Haslam, Liam Hassan-Beserekumo, Tzipporah Johnston, Elora Kadir, Nihan Karim, Glynis Lamond, Carrie Mason, Campbell Mcconnell, Andrew McPhail, Jenny Meehan, Bella Milroy, Aidan Moesby, Steve Musk, Elfrida Osbert, Alice Partington, Beau Rouse, Amna Sharif, Anne Smith, Mark Tamer, Andrea Vicentini, Aminder Virdee, Ophir Yaron, Chan Chung Yuen

A winning artist, selected by a small panel including Shape Open Patron - Yinka Shonibare CBE, will be awarded £1,000 at the Private View; a second artist will receive the People’s Choice Award of £250, as voted for by attendees of the Open throughout its duration. The People’s Choice Award is kindly supported by Crucial Colour Ltd, part of L&S Printing Co Ltd in Worthing, West Sussex.

For more information, please contact the Marketing team at Shape: [email protected] or +44 (0) 207 424 7351

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Lead Image: ‘Adid’nt know any disabled artists’ by Bella Milroy, courtesy of the artist