Materiality explores the expressive power of materials beyond the traditional language of paint on canvas. Bringing together the work of 21 contemporary artists, the exhibition considers what happens when the physical substance of an artwork becomes as significant as the image, object or idea it carries.

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Glass, metal, plastic, textiles, thread and paper appear alongside found, salvaged and industrial materials. Each possesses its own character: weight, fragility, tension, transparency, softness, resistance or decay. Rather than acting simply as a surface or support, these materials become active participants in the work, shaping both its creation and the way it is experienced.

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Texture, weight, surface and process take centre stage. Evidence of cutting, stitching, burning, breaking, layering, weaving, assembling and transforming remains visible, revealing the physical labour behind each piece. In some works, materials are pushed to their limits; in others, their familiar functions are disrupted or entirely reimagined. The exhibition celebrates this process of transformation, tracing the journey from raw substance to finished artwork.

At its core, Materiality considers how the inherent qualities of a material can shape meaning and emotional response. Glass may suggest both strength and vulnerability; metal can carry associations of industry, permanence or corrosion; textiles can evoke the body, domesticity and memory; paper can appear delicate and temporary, while also becoming intricate, sculptural and unexpectedly resilient.

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Materiality invites audiences to look beyond representation and towards the physical presence of the artwork itself. It asks us to consider not only what an artwork depicts, but what it is made from, how it was constructed and how those choices alter the way we understand it.

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In an increasingly digital and immaterial world, Materiality returns attention to the tactile, imperfect and resolutely physical. The exhibition celebrates artists for whom material is not simply a means to an end, but an essential part of their visual language.

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Participating artists:
Arlo Sinclair, Carrie Reichardt, Crystal Wagner, Dan Rawlings, Florist, Handiedan, Helch, Joe Everyman, Joe Sangre, Jonesy, Laura Ortiz Vega, LPVDA, Mário Belém, Matthew Small, Perishable Rush, Perspicere, Rocco and his Brothers, Sally Hewett, Simon Berger, Simon Hennessey and Soda.

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