The first exhibition outside of the university setting I was a part of was New Art West Midlands 2014, a group exhibition spread across multiple venues across the West Midlands.
This was the second annual exhibition which was open to recent graduates from five universities in the West Midlands. The open call received around 150 submissions, from which 23 artists were selected to exhibit in prominent locations including: Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, and Grand Union.
I was very lucky to have been selected to have three works exhibited, one of which was new, across two venues; Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery & The Barber Institute of Fine Arts. I cannot thank Rachel Bradley, Lisa Beauchamp & Robert Wenley enough for their interest, selection and patience.
I proposed the new work, Plinth, 2014, to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and The Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Both galleries were on board to show the artwork, however, in the end, I believed Plinth to be more suited to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery as I was to exhibit Untitled (Castors & Chair), 2014 at The Barber Institute of Fine Arts.
At the time of the exhibition preparations, I was living in London in full-time employment and without a studio. I was having to travel to Staffordshire and Birmingham to recreate two works and make a new work. This entire experience could not have been possible without the generosity of Ali Reed & Ben Harding, who let me use their studio spaces in Staffordshire and Birmingham to make & remake works for the exhibition.
