Our Trustees & AFOS Board
Artist Story: Kuniko Maeda
The Summer Group Show: A Place
Artist Story: Paolo Carzana
What Now? Over the Pond
Artist Story: George Richardson
Opening House of Bandits
Artist Story: Kasia Wozniak
Why We Love Commissions
Catching Up With
Artist Story: Darcey Fleming
Sarabande Collectors’ Plates
Sarabande supports creatively fearless minds of the future; our aim is to nourish emerging artists on all fronts to ensure they have the means to realise their distinctive visions. Sarabande offers scholarships at leading universities, houses the most affordable artist studios in London, and runs a pioneering public programme of events. Once a Sarabande artist, always a Sarabande artist. We continue to mentor our alumni to help build a successful and sustainable business that is true to them and their practice. We believe that artists work better in a creatively nourishing environment – our peer-to-peer community ensures that our artists get just that. Our creatives’ work is also multifarious. We welcome a range of disciplines from jewellers and designers to animators and performers – all of whom have a unique vision and dedication to their craft.
Foreword by Sarah Burton OBE
By Ann Ray
In the last few years of Lee’s life, he often talked about creating a house where artists from all disciplines could come together and work in a fearless creative environment. An environment without creative hierarchy, where artists would inspire each other, collaborate with each other and support each other. A creative and emotional home. For me, and I’m sure for Lee, Sarabande is the house that embodies this vision.
In many ways Sarabande also represents the early Alexander McQueen studio in Hoxton Square, where I began my journey at McQueen 27 years ago. Like Sarabande, I remember the studio being alive with raw energy, passion and unfettered creativity. We were always looking for creatives from different disciplines; Lee never limited himself to working only with people in fashion. I would hunt for a bedmaker who could make the iron showpiece that Lee had just envisioned, or a glass blower willing to take on the challenge of making an impossibly fragile bodice for a model to wear at his next show. He loved the conversation between different creatives, that all fed into making his dreams possible.
The words Lee often used still echo in my head when I visit Sarabande. He would always say, “Don’t give me a ‘no’”. He made you believe that anything was possible. In the same way, at Sarabande dreams can often become reality.
In these difficult times that we live in, where there is such underfunding in the arts and most importantly in arts education, Lee’s words have become more important than ever. At Sarabande, finding a yes, a solution, is not based on the financial support that you receive but the collective support of your fellow creatives.
Sarabande is a jewel, an incredibly special place – a place where all individuals and ideas have importance, a home where everyone is supported and nurtured, and at the same time pushed and challenged to achieve their best. Sarabande is a place where dreams become reality and I am sure Lee would be very proud of it.
Lee Alexander McQueen established Sarabande in 2006; named after his Spring/Summer 2007 show. Knowing that access to the arts isn’t always plain sailing, Sarabande was established to support those with enormous talent and artistic vision by giving them the means to push boundaries, overturn prevailing orthodoxies, and fulfil their potential. Put simply, Sarabande’s mission is to inclusively nurture the intrepid creatives of our future.
In 1994, two years after showing his final MA collection at Central Saint Martins, Lee founded the Alexander McQueen label, which has grown to become one of the foremost creatively led fashion brands in the world. Lee’s collaborative spirit was essential to the brand's success.
He sought out and invited fellow artists, artisans and creatives to work on collections, shows and campaigns. This merging of skill and vision allowed Lee to continually push the limits of fashion –expanding its relevance, artistry and meaning. It is this sentiment that runs through Sarabande’s core and, in the light of this – that mixing with other creatives is intrinsic to our ethos – we provide a safe space for our artists to collaborate and be explorative with their work.
Sarabande’s support for creatives is threefold: we offer scholarships to study at top-level institutions in London, a subsidised studio programme with bespoke mentoring and a pioneering public programme of on-site events for the wider creatives industries. When we speak of the Sarabande ‘family’, we are true to our word; our alumni have continual access to our support even after they have flown the nest.
by David Bailey
A BIG thank you to all the brands, companies and individuals who contributed to this manifesto.
We know we are not alone in feeling that this year has been economically tough for our industries – we are grateful to those who have supported our mission in spite of, and even because of, the current landscape.
Together, we comprise a global group of like-minded companies who share our mission to elevate and guide future generations of visionary thinkers to follow in your footsteps.
Sarabande was kickstarted by Lee’s vision and direction, but it is with your help that we have changed the lives of more than 250 artists and designers through scholarships and access to studio space. Through workshops, exhibitions, and inspirational and educational talks, we have opened up our artistic realm to tens of thousands of curious creatives.
With your support, you have shown that the creative community cares for its members and pulls together, forming a strong, tightknit community around the world, almost more than ever in time of need. Sarabande could not do it without you.
“Every time I visit, I leave feeling inspired, invigorated and, above all, humbled by the work I see and the conversations I have with each and every resident”
Andrew Bolton, OBE Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Andrew Bolton OBE, has been the curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute since 2006 and is widely recognised for curating several of the museum’s most pioneering and successful fashion exhibitions, including; Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, and most recently, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.
In Andrew’s words:
‘Lee’s legacy lives on through his extraordinary body of work, which still has the ability to generate visceral emotions. Perhaps more essentially, however, it thrives through the incredible ambitions of the diverse range of artists and designers that have passed through the Sarabande Foundation. Their unique creations not only channel the astounding originality and imagination of Lee, but also his astonishing bravery and fearlessness.
‘Sarabande Foundation is a thriving incubator of creativity. It fosters a community of likeminded individuals, who are encouraged to express themselves in the truest and purest of ways. Every time I visit, I leave feeling inspired, invigorated, and, above all, humbled by the work I see and the conversations I have with every resident. Sarabande emboldens its artists and designers to think differently and empowers them through an inimitable camaraderie of creativity. Born out of Lee’s noble vision, it stands as his proud and eternal legacy.’
“When I’m trooping through the Sarabande studios, I’m transported”
Tim Blanks, Fashion Critic and Editor-in-Chief of BoF, Commentator and Writer on the global world of fashion
Tim Blanks is a leading fashion critic and editor-in-chief of BoF – a greatly respected and loved commentator and writer on the global world of fashion. Tim moves effortlessly between art and fashion and has helped the foundation with several talks and introductions.
In Tim’s words:
‘I know Sarabande was a stately court dance in 17th-century Europe, though its earlier incarnation as a notoriously lively Central American fandango might have been more up Lee McQueen’s street. Either way, the word has a connotation of otherworldly culture that makes it an ideal label for Lee’s foundation. When I’m trooping through the Sarabande studios, I’m transported. Where did these people come from, with their passions and their quirkiness and their extraordinary craftsmanship? The heady combination of art and fashion and jewellery and strange ambitions is more than an artful testament to the legend of the man whose bequest made it all possible. It’s the best possible living legacy.
‘On a more pragmatic front, Sarabande is also a smart investment in the future of the British fashion industry because it encourages and celebrates what we’re best at: storytelling, craft, idiosyncrasy, fearlessness, and a style heritage like no one else’s. I can’t remember a moment when we were more in need of a reminder of all that. If Sarabande had a banner, I’d be marching under it, in joyful humanist defiance of blinkered political orthodoxy.’
On choosing scholar Rosa Uddoh –“She seemed to be creating a whole new way to talk about feminism and race.”
Nick Knight, CBE Photographer
Nick Knight, CBE, is one of the world’s most influential and visionary photographers. He is also the founder and director of award-winning fashion website, SHOWstudio.com.
In Nick’s words:
‘Artists see the world in a way that the rest of us do not, tuning into the subtleties that we would normally bypass. Sarabande Foundation provides the structure, the caring, education, and community to create work. There is a wide range of artistic skills that are supported, ranging from jewellery making to image making, and Sarabande is always looking towards the future.
‘Lee sent out images into the world that were as important as paintings, and they stay in the consciousness. We want our artists to show us things we cannot see – good and bad – and we need to put time and effort into protecting them, and giving them the time, space and support they deserve.’
“We have a duty to support and inspire the next generation”
Naomi Campell, Model, Philanthropist and founder of Fashion for Relief
Naomi Campbell is one of the five original supermodels. Naomi was born in London and caught her break when she was 15 years old. She was the first black model to appear on the cover of Time magazine, French Vogue and Russian Vogue. She was also the first black British model to appear on the cover of British Vogue. Over the course of her career she has graced the covers of more than 500 magazines.
In Naomi’s words:
‘Supporting Sarabande Foundation is very important to me. It’s a way for me to keep the legacy of my dear friend Lee alive and help open doors for fearless creators, like him, to rise. My wish is to see a more diverse and inclusive industry where young emerging talents from all walks of life are given equal opportunities to pursue their dreams. Who knows what innovations could come out of the brilliant creators that are nurtured through this foundation? We have a duty to support and inspire the next generation to envisage a positive and more sustainable future. Thinking of Lee, I will always remember the Fashion For Relief show in 2010 when we paid tribute to him by opening with his amazing Spring/Summer collection. It was very emotional for all the girls. Lee was the most gentle soul with the biggest heart I have ever known, and I want to continue to celebrate him.’
“I’m proud to be a patron for Sarabande. That his legacy supports a charitable foundation for artists and designers means he is alive through the work he supports”
Sam Taylor-Johnson OBE, Artist and Film Director
Sam Taylor-Johnson OBE, was born in Croydon and graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London, in 1990. Her first solo exhibition was at The Showroom, London, in 1994, and she was the youngest artist to be granted a solo exhibition at the Hayward Gallery for a major retrospective of her work. She traverses directing major films and her personal artistic practice.
In Sam’s words:
‘From my perspective, it is really important to support the foundation, as it was so important to Lee. Sarabande is an extension of his creativity. It creates a thread linking his thought processes to his love of collaborations with other artists –musicians, artists, jewellers, image-makers – and keeping that thread alive is magical.
‘Sarabande is curated with absolutely the right spirit, with artists working at a consistently high level. Lee was a fantastic collaborator and image-maker, which was reflected in every single aspect of what he did. There is no one like him, but having these young creative minds coming through Sarabande is starting to fill that emptiness. It is a gift for me to be involved as a patron of the foundation – it is so alive.’
On Sarabande Studios –
“There’s an energy and passion that reminds me of Lee’s old studio”
Shaun Leane, Jeweller
Shaun Leane is an award-winning jewellery designer, a long-time collaborator with Lee on numerous pieces for runway shows, and a close friend and confidante. Proprietor of The House of Shaun Leane, Shaun has helped the foundation reach young jewellers in need of studio spaces, as well as through scholarship selections.
In Shaun’s words:
‘Through interdisciplinary collaborations, new techniques and materials can be explored to create, innovate and bring to life groundbreaking design; the avant-garde can be born.
‘My relationship with Lee was based on this very notion. Together our minds were opened to explore each other’s mediums, discover new silhouettes, and fuse fabric with metal: for the accessory to become the garment and the garment to become the accessory. It was a journey of excitement and new challenges with one intention, to create the new and beautiful. For me, the foundation of Sarabande continues this ethos. It strives to create the new and to support the fearless through collaboration and exploration of innovative craft and design. When I’m at Sarabande’s workshops it warms my heart to feel that same energy that was and still is the core of my journey.’
Sarabande is proud to now have two pioneering studio complexes in London, boasting 32 of Europe’s best-value artist spaces. Our HQ is based in a Grade II-listed Victorian stable-block conversion in Haggerston, while its sister site –two Grade II-listed Georgian townhouses – stands on Tottenham’s High Road. Both sites have 24hour access, forming a creative community with designers and artists from multiple disciplines. Costing a fraction of the local average, our studios are among the cheapest in London. At only £1 per square foot per month, the heavily subsidised studios ensure that our residents can focus on creative development and expanding their business to establish sustainable models for growth. Sarabande has endowed these original studio spaces for the past nine years, with no increases to rent.
Set in two of London’s richest creative hubs, Sarabande exudes all that encompasses its surrounding creative spheres. Our buildings are home to a plethora of artisans: our tactile artists include sculptors, fashion designers, jewellers, textile designers, painters, performance artists, silversmiths, costume designers, ceramicists and dancers. Alongside these, Sarabande also houses filmmakers, animators, photographers, digital designers and visual artists.
The studios comprise a comradeship of creatives who bolster each other’s practices and provide the drive to capitalise on other opportunities provided by the foundation. In addition to subsidised rent, residents have access to bespoke business
mentoring, pro bono support from accountants and lawyers, discounted tickets and networking within our educational events, assistance for press and marketing strategies, professional filming and documentation, free use of the exhibition space, support in realising ambitious projects, and inclusion in the global creative activities led by the foundation such as retail events and exhibitions.
Since 2012, Sarabande has awarded students with scholarships for fashion at Central Saint Martins, and art at Slade School of Fine Art. Both being of the most prestigious and generous scholarships available in London, beneficiaries are selected for their fearless approach to creativity, but lack the financial means to fulfil their vision. As of 2020, Sarabande bolstered this aid: increasing our full scholarships to BA Fashion at Central Saint Martins two-fold and introducing final-year bursaries to all courses. In 2022, these bursaries were increased by 50% to BA Fashion at Central Saint Martins. In 2023, we increased scholars’ living stipend by 30% in line with the increased cost of living – this has been maintained throughout 2024. In addition to financial support, students have access to bespoke mentoring from the Sarabande team and network, use of the building for development and exhibition, and coverage in Sarabande’s international press. Unlike most scholarships, we are not just a final-year bursary. Instead, we financially support each student every year of their study, from start to finish.
Our award-winning scholars have been chosen by industry experts from the Foundation’s network, including Sarah Burton OBE, Dinos Chapman, Sølve Sundsbø, Shaun Leane, Katy England, Tim Blanks, Hannah Barry, Nick Knight CBE, Matthew Slotover OBE, Craig Green MBE, Sadie Coles, Giles Deacon, Todd Lynn, Jake Chapman, Kim Jones, Chris Ofili CBE, Marina Abramović, Daniel Roseberry and Maria Balshaw CBE. This year, we welcomed back Andrew Bolton OBE, Russell Tovey and Maureen Paley joined the roster. Starting at the beginning of a creative’s career by supporting their education and continuing to position opportunities in their way, our scholarship programme embodies Sarabande’s work and all that we do to champion visionary artists of future generations.
As a foundation, it is our wish and our duty to honour the charity commission stipulations. In true Sarabande fashion, we go above and beyond the mandatory minimum by satisfying four of the 13 charity requirements. Not only do we address and relieve financial strain, but we also bring accessibility to the arts and education to the public realm. Sarabande is a foundation, not just a talent pool. We insist that neither we, nor anyone else, loses sight of that.
Anyone who knows Sarabande knows we like to aim high. You’ll read Sarah Burton quote Lee in her foreword “Don’t give me a ‘no’”, and so you’ll gather that it’s in our DNA. The past year at Sarabande has been no different. We have shot for the moon on every occasion: spinning plates (and smashing none) across two sites, excelling at our events programme, hammering home our AFOS mission, welcoming new artists – all while ensuring that uplifting individual artists is kept at the forefront of everything we do.
Last time you read this feature, we’d teased at the Summer Group Show. Here’s the lowdown: 2023’s summer exhibition, SUM, was an ode to Sarabande’s family style camaraderie with a focus on the idea of home and belonging. With a house built by set designers Souvenir, the artists curated a show around the structure field with their artworks of woven windows, latex tombstones, a ceramic fountain filled with acid and a knitted door.
Five hundred and sixty visitors trooped through the doors to visit the home furnished by Taryn O’Reilly, Robert Cooper, Anouska Samms, Urte Janus, Laila Tara H, Zongbo Jiang, Isabel Castro Jung, Fuschia, Jia Xi Li, Shirin Fathi and Kasia Wozniak. Among them were representatives from The Design Museum, Soho House, Hales Gallery and Serpentine Galleries.
artists at SUM
Within the same month, we opened the doors to our long-anticipated High Road Studios in Tottenham. Having patiently waited for building works to complete, the artists quickly made themselves at home and, in the blink of an eye, hammering was heard from the workshop, the studios were bustling, and the meeting rooms were booked and busy in anticipation of fashion week. Our first intake of Tottenham artists were: sound musician Noah Berrie; painters John Hui, Leyman Lahcine, Daniel The Gardener; photographers Michelle Marshall, Hannah Norton, Rachel Fleminger Hudson; sculptors Emmely Elgersma, Electric Adam, Kuniko Maeda, George Richardson and Malgorzata Lisiecka; designers Renata Brenha; illustrator Anna Nicolo; jewellers Matilde Mozzanega and Miya Kumo; textile artist Sayan Chanda. Knowing that Sarabande support would be invaluable at pivotal times in their career and to keep the foundation’s spirit ringing true, we house photographer Kasia Wozniak; digital artist Zongbo Jiang; designers Paolo Carzana and PARISER for another year.
In anticipation of LFW, the gallery spaces at both sites were high in demand and full of activity. Stefan Cooke returned for a catwalk shoot, Standing Ground held their castings and HMU, as did Paolo Carzana. Both Standing Ground and Paolo showed on schedule for fashion week, and PARISER held her presentation at the Hertford Road Gallery as part of DiscoveryLab. Bianca Saunders also booked out the space to shoot her campaign lookbook.
Reluctant for fashion to steal the show entirely, Daniel The Gardener held the first High Road workshop and the Haggerston main space was host to this year’s first ‘Inspired’ conversation with Ross Lovegrove. Hot on the heels from the Practical series was ‘How To: Price Your Artwork’ and ‘3 Contracts All Creatives Must Know’.
Also this month, we held a Sarabande x Dom Pérignon dinner to celebrate ‘A Night of Creative Work’. Held at Hauser & Wirth’s jaw-dropping Mount St Restaurant, The Scottish Room was brought to life with commissions by Robert Cooper (a colourful 10 meter mural painting as the tablecloth), Taryn O’Reilly (bespoke macabre ceramic candelabras) and Rosie Gibbens (performance mocking the sexualised workplace). Guests of the evening included friends of the foundation Giles Deacon, Katy England, Maria Balshaw, Sam Taylor-Johnson and Bianca Saunders.
Tours were enjoyed by Cockayne, Daniel Levy, Vivian Lewis, Made in China’s Philip Dodd, Alexander McQueen, Sutton PR, London Craft Week’s Naomi Davenport, New Contemporaries and more.
For Halloween, Taryn O’Reilly held her Making Monsters exhibition and alumnus Jiaxi Li was the first to christen the Tottenham gallery with her solo show, Where Forgetting Meets Remembering.
Jiaxi welcomed over 200 guests on her opening night to see her knitted sculptures, and the exhibition was reported by both Dazed and the local Haringey community newspaper. The Hertford Road main space was full to the brim as Joshua Beaty’s class took over for their installation assessments.
As October came to an end, the new artist cohort arrived in our Haggerston studios - drumroll please! Multidisciplinary artists
Banita Mistry and Lulu Wang; sculptors Darcey Fleming and Matija Cop; painters Koby Martin and Stephen Akpo; jewellers Shola Branson and Martina Kocianova; sculptor and woodcarver Jo Grogan; designers Aaron Esh and AV VATTEV; sugar sculptor Sophie Lloyd and teddy bear master Dean Hoy; (bio)photographer Almudena Romero.
Artist crits are a new addition to our events programme; our response to word from the creative community that there aren't enough spaces for artists to come together to discuss their work on a peer-to-peer level. These are artist-led and our first sessions were held by Tottenham duos Hannah Norton and Leyman Lahcine, followed by George Richardson and John Hui.
And just like that, November rolls around and it’s time for our annual fundraiser. This year we returned to our good friends at The Standard, London. ‘Woven’ was our theme to celebrate the rich landscape that is our shared creative industry and the variety of artists and designers supported by the charity. Hosted by long-standing friend of the foundation Giles Deacon, guests of the evening included Marina Abramović, Tim Walker, Letitia Wright, Hannah Redmayne, Maverick Sabre, Lola Bute, Yinka Ilori MBE, Alex Eagle, Mark Wadhwa, Harry Lambert, Bettina Korek, Sandy Powell OBE, Sarah Burton OBE, Debra Shaw, Jonathan Akeroyd and Rhea Dillon (to name but a few).
The room was filled with a canopy made from bold fabrics suspended from the ceiling to represent how the industry is stronger when woven together, and each table was dressed with our signature plates by exceptional creatives from Tim Burton to Daniel Roseberry of Schiaparelli. The tablescape was adorned with Sophie Lloyd’s ‘stained-glass’ sugar sculptures. The playful pieces, specially commissioned for the event, included caricatures of some of the evening’s special guests – from Sandy Powell OBE to Yinka Ilori MBE (you can read more about this on page 84).
The very next day we hosted Hermès’ Nadège Vanhee for our Inspired series (naturally a sell out), and the next week the main spaces were transformed into photoshoot studios for Lucy Jagger and Bianca Saunders. Towards the end of the month, Stefan Cooke returned for a lookbook campaign and WED used the space for a photoshoot.
New artist-in-residence AV VATTEV made themselves at home in the Haggerston main space, and Isabel Castro Jung held a drawing class centred on motion and fabric manipulation. Following this, we saw the return of a familiar face, Esna Su who used the space for a photoshoot.
Meanwhile, in the High Road gallery space, Arthur Poujois set us for his solo exhibition, us at the end of the world.
Lulu Wang settled into the main space for back-to-back rehearsals and we were thrilled to welcome Hannah Ridley to meet this year’s artists-in-residence for her 1-2-1 mentoring sessions.
Shoe-horning the most out of the space before the festive break, Rachel Fleminger Hudson used the space to build set flats for a Dazed and WED camped out for their selling campaign and cascade of private appointments.
With a keen eye for christmas gifts, Mark C. O’Flaherty and Vogue’s Jermaine Gallagher were among our guests who popped by our House of Bandits store (readmoreaboutthis onpage78) .
The Sarabande Christmas Party is a calendar favourite and marks a slight festive hiatus for the Sarabande team. The gallery spaces, however, get no such break. Daniel The Gardener, Darcey Fleming, Lulu Wang, Dean Hoy, Noah Berrie, Emmely Elgersma, Rachel FlemingerHudson, John Hui, Electric Adam, Michelle Marshall and Hannah Norton all divvied up the spaces across the winter break.
Helping us thaw through January were visits from Louisa Pacifico and Alice Black of Alice Black Gallery – both of whom we are delighted to now call Sarabande mentors. Continuing with their invaluable advice were mentors Jeii Hong, Moin Roberts-Islam and Gino Da’Prato. Saatchi’s Lily Waterton also joined our roster of mentors this month, as did Dover Street Market’s Mimi Hoppen. Later on, Emily Steer held her annual roundtable to guide the artists on how to approach journalists and how to bag press, and South Parade gallery’s Isaac Simon also came on board. Each individual brings such prized knowledge and truly embodies Sarabande’s ethos of inter-industry support –we are so honoured to count them as part of our family.
Marlborough Gallery’s James Bayard toured the studios, as did Simon Ungless and Soho House’s Kate Bryan and Jack Lazenby. The latter ignited many exciting conversations and commissions – more on this later. Phaidon, Caroline Fitzgibbons, Alexander McQueen, Yinka Ilori MBE, Bernie Yates, Fortnum & Mason, V&A, W Communications, James Bowthorpe and Hikari Yokoyama were also among January’s visitors.
Wrapping up the month and starting our 2024 talks programme was none other than the legendary Dame Rachel Whiteread for an Inspired conversation with the Design Museum’s Tim Marlow.
Soon followed by an annual favourite: ‘How To Set Up a Business’, with experts from Litica and Mishcon de Reya. After which, we dished out practical advice on ‘Directing Still Lives’.
With artist crits in full swing, we opened our doors to local artists and creatives ever-keen to receive and give feedback on their work in a safe circle. With a photography focused session by residents Michelle Marshall and Kasia Wozniak, to a broader multi-disciplinary session with Leyman Lahcine and Banita Mistry.
Thinking large scale, Rachel Fleminger Hudson used the main space to build flats for an upcoming project with Dazed and, hot on her heels, Aaron Esh set up camp for an ecomm shoot; Paolo Carzana, Stefan Cooke and Aaron Esh for casting and HMU across fashion week. Nicole Zisman held her showroom in our High Road Gallery and Conor Joseph also had a chance to slip in between this very busy period and shoot his new collaborative collection: Hairware.
Nothing makes us happier than a full room and, making use of every nook and cranny, Renata Brenha and Pariser held a beautiful AW24 showroom in our foyer where buyers from Selfridges confirmed Renata for their SS24 ‘Summer of Sport’.
AV VATTEV shot product and Stefan Cooke returned to host an evening for private fittings. In the hours in between, Darcey Fleming, Electric Adam and Martina Kocianova used the main spaces for private appointments, idea development and to shoot collections, respectively.
With the narrative of his studio as ‘home’, Aaron Esh held his AW24 show as part of LFW in the main space, transforming the space with bowls filled with cigarettes and champagne. Glossy but gritty, the gallery-turnedcatwalk was graced by the good and great of fashion (as was the pub down the road – you're welcome!).
The end of February brought hands-on practical advice with ‘Directing Still Lives’ and Leyman Lahcine opened the doors to his solo show, ‘Tides of Consciousness’, at the High Road gallery. We were thrilled to welcome Won Lee, patron Lola Bute, The Roof Gardens, and Misha Nonoo to view the studios.
International Women's Day Group Show: Earth Monsters
March sprung into action with 1-2-1 mentoring sessions with our new mentor Alice Black, director of Alice Black Gallery. Alice spent time sharing her commercial gallery expertise with George Richardson and Darcey Fleming; a huge focus this year was for us to open the art world up further for our artists.
A theme that literally carried over from one day to the next, with a tour from Maureen Paley’s director Lauren Williamson following suit, India James of Soho Revue and, later in the month, The Photographer’s Gallery.
House of Bandits is Sarabande’s concept store –- a simple way to directly support the work of the foundation and the artists themselves. While House of Bandits still very much welcomes collectors to our Tottenham flagship, for International Women's Day we traversed the city to Soho House White City, where we held a pop-up shop highlighting pieces by our female presenting Sarabande artists. From wall pieces and tableware to jewellery and hats, the amazing craftsmanship of our female artists was in full force on the west side. If you couldn’t make it, fear not, you can shop House of Bandits anytime in store or online.
The International Women’s Day exhibition: Earth Monsters, continued in full force, complete with a curator tour joined by the public and close friends of the foundation including Bianca Roden, alongside a special event for Mother’s Day.
With our fashion hats on, March also saw us welcome Sarah Burton, the Burberry team, Selfridges and the British Council: Architecture, Design and Fashion, alongside mentoring from our jewellery mentor Mimi Hoppen, bi-monthly sessions from the wonderful Hannah Ridley and the ever-popular Gino Da’Prato.
April then opened the doors and studios to The Rug Company, Seán McGirr, Dom Pérignon, COS, Saatchi Yates, Nike and Burberry (back for second helpings!) to meet the artists. And the mentors kept coming through the doors: another new mentor joined us – Isaac Simon, founder and director of South Parade Gallery.
Another solo show was opened in the Tottenham gallery space, with Emmely Elgersma welcoming more than 150 people to her opening night of her debut ‘Rock, Paper, Kiln’. The gallery space in Tottenham fast proved itself this year as a hub of displaying creativity. Its size and high gallery specification make it an ever attractive space for all of our artists, past and present.
‘It’s My Birthday and I’ll Cry If I Want To’ said Sophie Lloyd, as she led her birthday cake inspired workshop. Taking inspiration and skillset from her own practice as a sugar sculptor, Sophie taught a packed room of workshop attendees how to manipulate and create from the sticky stuff. Wacky cakes with clashing hues and vibrant colours emerged at the end of the session.
Speaking of events, not only did we hold another successful artistcrit session, but we also had Cornelia Parker CBE speak about her practice in conversation with Andrea Schlieker as part of our Inspired series.
No sooner had we caught our collective breath, we welcomed META, the Sunshine Company, The Cut’s Cathy Horyn and Axel Arigato in for tours.
Next up, we were packing our bags and jumping across the pond for our regular NYC fundraiser – this time for an intimate dinner with friends of the foundation hosted in the penthouse of The Standard, East Village – and our first ever What Now? held in the heart of The Big Apple.
A series that has become loved and developed over the past three years in London, What Now? continues to answer those burning questions that graduates and even those looking for a career change have. We bring in the cavalry in the form of experts from the industry's leading brands, and this year in NYC was no exception – we welcomed 23 brands including Thom Browne, LVMH, Coach, Zero + Maria Cornejo, Art + Commerce and Gabriela Hearst to hold 1-to-1 conversations with young creatives navigating their next steps. With more than 90 mentors signed up to support over the day, it was a huge success – tickets were sold out and over 1,000 sessions with great advice were conducted across the eight hours.
Feeling rather tired and somewhat hoarse from so many conversations, the next day we celebrated. Bringing the celebrations of Woven over to our American Friends, we transformed the penthouse into a cacophony of rich interlocking colour. Floating among the panoramic cityscape, we commissioned artist-in-residence George Richardson to playfully upgrade our tabletop into a games table extraordinaire, complete with painted playing cards, bronze snooker chalks and snooker felt. Joining our game were hosts for the evening Aimee Mullins and Rupert Friend, alongside Sandy Powell OBE, Daniel Roseberry, Adam Selman, Karen Harvey, and our American Friends of Sarabande chair Francesca Amitheatrof.
Back on home turf, we opened up our Tottenham gallery space to the local school – London Academy of Excellence – for it to use the space to exhibit the works of its 6th form A-Level Art students. The open afternoon was filled with proud students and even prouder parents and teachers to see the young artists’ work properly displayed.
In keeping with community spirit, Dean Hoy worked with us to celebrate London Craft Week. We were proud this year to put Tottenham on the Craft Week map with a wonderful workshop inspired by Dean’s ‘Bears Who Care’: a giant teddy bear’s picnic, where attendees worked together using embroidery and textile techniques to create a large picnic rug.
Seeing in our second What Now? of the year, this time within the comfort of our own four walls, we welcomed 100s of recent graduates across two days of jam packed workstations with reps from Dazed, Alexander McQueen, Mulberry, Stella McCartney, Burberry, Craig Green, Christie’s, ArtRabbit and Alex Munroe (to name but a few!). In the evenings, we ran a masterclass on portfolio led by Creative Search’s Stephanie Finnan and a panel talk to combat post-graduate panic with Jack Sunnucks, Ellis Jaz and Xenab Lone, moderated by Jeii Hong, to tackle those more widely experienced worries.
A blockbuster month followed with an inspired talk with Shona Heath; a practical on how to get going on clienteling; a gem jewellery workshop with Matilde Mozzanega and Miya Kumo; and solo shows from Mairi Millar and Stephen Akpo.
As ever, the main spaces were also in high demand: Darcey Fleming installed her works for viewings with private collectors; Aaron Esh used the space for a styling session with Katy England; Lucy Jagger and Kasia Wozniak experimented in our High Road Gallery; and Isabel Castro Jung returned for a rehearsal at Hertford Road. Warming up the Haggerston main space ahead of the Summer Group Show, Koby Martin held his solo show of painting portals to other worlds.
As we up the ante in advance of the Summer Exhibition, we were thrilled to welcome Sipsmith, Julian Vogel, Patrick Rower, New Public Arts, Calum Knight, Vivienne Westwood, Sky Diamond, the Royal Academy, Christie’s, Unit Gallery, Good Culture and La Prairie.
And breathe!
For the final dance, as everyone winds down for the summer months, Sarabande continues to turn up the heat! As we are busy interviewing for our next artist cohort for the November intake from our open call, we are in full swing of celebration for our Summer Group Show, this year titled ‘A Place’. With late night events, artist take-overs and performances a plenty, the Sarabande sites are abuzz with creativity and the group exhibition shines as an example of the breadth of creatives we support.
by Trino Verkade
As I write this, the word ‘investment’ is ringing in my ears. It’s a term we hear a lot. It’s not only a monetary term, but it also relates to time, energy, love and care.
On a macro scale, it translates to how we value our arts and our creative community. How does our government and our society invest into this long term? What are we trying to achieve? More generally, we might think about how we invest in art and how this changes with time.
At Sarabande, we too must think about our investment. What does it mean to us? What returns do we expect?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the arts and creative industries as:
‘The expression or application of creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting, drawing, or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power’.1
Tellingly, the GOV.UK department of Culture, Media and Sport uses a definition that focuses on the economic outputs of the creative industry:
‘Those industries which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property’.2
It is universally acknowledged that there is a great benefit to the UK economy from the creative arts; the economic growth of the sector over the past three years has far surpassed the UK’s more sluggish wider economic growth. But we must be careful to not overemphasise and over-monetise the sector – its strengths are often about innovation, an unquantifiable value.
In The UK Arts Ecosystem: Seeing the Big Picture, McKinsey & Company states that 91% of the UK adult population engaged with the arts within 2023.3 Though a general comment, this percentage is a powerful indication of the arts’ influence on society. Key to this report’s findings were how communities are drawn together by the creative arts – something that Sarabande takes seriously and, often, literally.
It’s been almost 10 years since we opened the studios and even longer since we started to grant scholarships. Sure, we have learnt a lot along the way, and it hasn’t always been easy – we started Sarabande from scratch. A start-up of sorts, Sarabande itself was an unknown entity, so we had to work hard to communicate who we were, what we did and to find people to listen.
It seems crazy now, but when we started it was a long slog to find artists who wanted Sarabande studios (even at our ridiculous £1 per sq ft) and to persuade them to attend our regular talks and events. We would call friends; beg them to come and fill seats. We are so grateful that with consistent investment into our events programme and by remaining true to our vision, the hard work has paid off: our reputation has grown and brought us to where we have a healthy audience for our talks.
When we opened the Sarabande building in 2015, there was a swift decline in the availability of studios for creatives in central London: dilapidated but sorely needed studio buildings were being turned into luxury real estate in the London economic boom. It was a desperate situation for the creative community, which was being squeezed out of London.
There are now many studio opportunities. Some are offered short term while planning applications are on hold, others are prospects for landlords to capitalise on the arts as a transformational tool to develop areas into desirable places to live.
Sarabande is neither: we don’t judge ourselves on normal metrics of success. Although we were limited to only 15 studios with our first building, we were fortunate to have a long-term view. For us, it is not about the quantity of artists that have benefited from Sarabande’s support nor expected concepts of success (press coverage and fame being the obvious markers). Instead, we decided that qualitative impact, that true investment, was more important. We must judge ourselves on how much Sarabande shapes an artist’s life and career in the long term and, consequently, how that effect has resonated further into the creative environment. In other words, we decided it was important to prioritise the longevity of the ripple effect.
In this way, I believe we have seen Sarabande become successful. Alumni have supported and influenced each other to experiment with new materials, fine tune their vision and how it manifests in their work, and to push into braver spaces. We believe that enabling this community has allowed Sarabande creatives to make their best work.
Sarabande has also led the way for other organisations and companies to follow. From the outside, housing artists’ studios seems a very positive and exciting benefit to an organisation; facilitating creatives often bestows a halo effect to an organisation, and this attracts press. The promotional benefits are unquestionable.
However, to offer this support to creatives who are navigating new business models and treading new grounds in their practices (and often in the wider arts landscape, too) takes many hands. Sarabande requires manpower, really quite a lot of human energy. Our team tackles questions and artists’ challenges daily and our many brilliant and dedicated mentors make the work manageable, but it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ model. We see our support as a seed fund that grows, and it’s because it runs deep that we see the benefits resonate beyond just the hundreds in our fold.
Our support is not driven by the potential of an artist’s trajectory or how they may benefit the foundation further down the line. Instead, we must take risks. We know that the support is most felt by unknown artists: those who are likely creating ideas ahead of their time, who may not have many followers or ever be recognised for their work beyond the Sarabande family. This risk, this care, is vital for making the artist community feel invested in without feeling commoditised. To feel valued as creative individuals and not as marketing opportunities. Sometimes our greatest return is the smallest of rewards when an artist says they feel valued.
Now with House of Bandits we are asking people to invest in our artists, not because you expect to see financial return, but because your investment enriches the career and future of the creatives in the pipeline – those whose work speaks to the inheriting generation.
The surge of Gen Z's influence in the fine art market began with an innate digital fluency coupled with a yearning for authenticity. While other generations tend to seamlessly follow fashion trends, adapting their tastes to those of the masses, Gen-Zers value uniqueness and transparency, and are driven by a collective desire to challenge conventional beauty and artistic standards and to reshape the notions around creativity. This shift of mood in the art appreciation and collection market – where people are choosing to support the journeys of emerging artists – confirms a reforming of the concepts we collectively value in art. It is a shift in the societal understanding of ‘investment’ into art away from priority on (financial) return and towards a focus on cultural enrichment.
This is a very Sarabande perspective and it is music to our ears.
And as always I want to thank the incredible Sarabande team, volunteers, board and interns that make Sarabande work!
1. Oxford English Dictionary, ‘art’, https://www.oed.com/dictionary/art_n1?tab=factsheet#38717681 [accessed 21 June, 2024]
2. UK Parliament, Feb 2024, www. lordslibrary.parliament.uk/contribution-of-the-arts-to-society-and-the-economy-, [accessed 21 June 2024]
3. McKinsey & Company, The UK Arts Ecosystem: Seeing the Big Picture, https://www.mckinsey.com/uk/our-insights/introduction-seeingthe-big-picture [accessed 21 June, 2024]
The public events programme is designed to support the wider creative community. Held in Sarabande’s versatile exhibition space, these events are welcoming and open to all. All talks are digitally recorded, allowing us to share vital insights and stories to a global audience to advise, guide and inspire.
Sarabande recognises there are countless skills that are transferable across disciplines, so our business talks aim to explore essential elements in building a successful business, from the daily challenges of raising funds, understanding hidden production and shipping costs and creating your own e-commerce site, to the joy and importance of cash-flow charts, and trademarking and employment contracts, to name a few. These talks, all part of our Practical Series, serve to bridge the gap between academia and industry, aiding creatives in establishing themselves more seamlessly.
The Foundation relies upon the time and generosity of individuals already working in the creative industries to deliver these talks; they are well placed to pass on knowledge and best practices to those coming through, helping them to navigate the industry and avoid the early pitfalls. It is this peer-to-peer support that makes Sarabande’s programme so engaging and relevant. It amplifies the care and value that we, and our network, invest in to enhance the opportunities for future creative communities.
Keeping creative skills at the forefront, the Foundation holds workshops on a wide range of skills and techniques: portrait photography; life drawing; self-portraiture; jewellery design; sugar sculpting; book binding. These workshops invite the public to sharpen their skills or develop new ones: to inform their own practice with furthered understandings of traditional and modern processes.
The Inspiration Series is a forum to hear an individual's journey in an intimate setting. So far, we’ve programmed talks with Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood and shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood, designer Morag Myerscough, artists Maggi Hambling CBE, Dame Rachel Whiteread DBE, Cornelia Parker CBE, Jake Chapman, Mat Collishaw and Grayson Perry CBE, along with Martin Parr CBE, Juno Calypso and Yinka Shonibare CBE. Jewellers Wallace Chan, Christian Hemmerle, Silvia Furmanovich and Francesca Amfitheatrof have travelled from Hong Kong, Germany, Brazil and New York for rare talks in the UK, alongside designer Thom Browne and Sarabande ambassador Andrew Bolton OBE. We have also welcomed Simone Rocha, Polly Morgan, Tim Walker, Samuel Ross, Nick Knight CBE, alumni Molly Goddard and Craig Green MBE, Sam Taylor-Johnson OBE, Daniel Roseberry, Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski, Liz Collins in conversation with Penny Martin, Sandy Powell OBE, Edmund de Waal CBE, Miles Aldridge, Peter Saville CBE and Oscarwinning set designer Shona Heath.
This Inspiration Series aims to shed some light on the complexities of building a successful career, where speakers touch upon moments of struggle or revisit a time when they almost gave up. We are humbled that so many incredible visionary makers give time for free to speak with our network. Their generosity has allowed Sarabande to build a broad programme of talks spanning the vast range of disciplines covered by the foundation that is accessible to everyone, even those living outside of London.
Our second home in Tottenham has enabled us to expand our events programme even further. Its smaller gallery space provides the perfect setting for workshops tailored to more intimate crowds and for Artist Crits, the latest addition to Sarabande’s events line-up. The crits offer artists of all ages, disciplines, and backgrounds the opportunity to receive feedback on their latest work and discuss their next creative steps. Led by Sarabande residents, the feedback is peer-to-peer, making the advice feel relevant and non-judgmental. Since opening in September 2023, our Tottenham space has hosted more than a dozen events, not including the numerous solo shows our Sarabande artists have presented to the public.
INSPIRED: Cornelia Parker CBE
INSPIRED: Peter Saville CBE
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Chair – Camilla Lowther OBE
Damian Bradfield Francesca Amfitheatrof Sheryl Needham Benjamin Hooper
American Friends of Sarabande is a publicly supported, tax-exempt organisation under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code and is eligible to receive tax deductible charitable contributions within the limits prescribed by law.
TIN: 84-1472246
Its mission is to raise awareness for the activities and program of the Sarabande Foundation in the US and overseas to enhance the Foundation’s support for emerging creatives.
AFOS Board:
President – Francesca Amfitheatrof
Secretary – Nancy Chilton
Treasurer – Jay Sternstein
Kuniko is one of our first artists in residence at Sarabande High Road. With our help, Kuniko has grown exponentially, in terms of structuring her creative practice and in confidence. She has participated in various showcases such as Earth Monsters – a group exhibition of female-identifying Sarabande artists past and present – and a House of Bandits pop-up at Soho House White City, both to celebrate International Women’s Day. This has allowed Kuniko the opportunity to meet key industry figures, press and clients, as well as develop her peer network.
With Sarabande’s advice, Kuniko has developed her framing to elevate and do justice to her works. In addition, the team has helped Kuniko navigate contracts and terms with corporate clients commissioning work, ensuring that she feels reassured and confident accepting and executing project proposals.
Kuniko stocks with House of Bandits and Sarabande is thrilled to have facilitated some significant sales.
Kuniko Maeda creates organic form sculptures from paper, leather and textiles. By exploring the possibility of materials and their unique properties, she allows the materials to speak and embrace natural formed abstraction. Marrying technological and hand craft, Kuniko derives her inspiration from our daily surroundings and everyday objects, which tend to be overlooked and forgotten in a hectic urban life.
‘Taking part in the Sarabande residency was one of the most exciting opportunities of my career. It has had a profound impact on my practice in so many ways. The support from the Sarabande team was incredibly helpful and I was always able to seek advice on different aspects of my work whenever I needed it.'
‘The creative community at Sarabande was also invaluable. Everyone was friendly, highly creative and passionate, with diverse skills, and I learnt a lot from them during the residency. The studio space was comfortable and perfect for focused creation. I had a fantastic studio mate who made the process of making my work effective and enjoyable. I am very grateful to have worked in such an inspiring environment.'
‘The studio visits were also amazing opportunities to meet and explain my work to guests from prestigious companies, galleries and organisations, which further enriched my experience.'
‘Sarabande offered so many opportunities including mentoring, exhibitions, talks, workshops and the House of Bandits shop. Its connections within the creative industries opened doors that I wouldn't have been able to access on my own. Sarabande also promoted the sale of our work and provided financial support. Thanks to the residency, my practice and network have developed significantly.’
A tradition that began its journey back in 2017, the annual Sarabande Summer Group Show has grown and evolved each year. It remains a glinting highlight in our programming and is a true celebration where friends of the foundation and the general public can get a snapshot of what our current roster of resident artists have been working on during their year under our roof.
This year, ‘A Place’ was a story in two halves. Part 1 subtitled ‘Can I just…’ and Part 2 ‘...stay longer’ features glassy sugar portraits; woven sculptures from hay bale twine; photographs on leaves; and living latex sculptures. Each work speaks to finding a place to ‘be’ during the uncomfortable spaces in-between.
A nod to the tongue-in-cheek question the Sarabande team is often asked near the end of the artists’ year-long studio residency (“Can I stay another year?”) and signalling the shared feeling at the threshold of change, this year’s artists explore the ambiguities and possibilities that are presented during transitional times.
What exists in the in-between?
How do you find your way back to a place that feels like home?
How do you embrace the tension all this can bring?
Drawing much in parallel with their time in residence – a place to feel at home – this year's summer exhibition is filled with a cacophony of voices and an insight into the various worlds in which our artists bloom.
This is truly an artist-led affair: the show is hosted, produced and curated by them. Although we are there to be the wind on their backs, supporting them with each of the above and guiding the execution of this large project, this is really an opportunity for and testament to the artists who spearhead the operation themselves.
We are passionate that at every opportunity and every turn, the artists are best prepared to apply all they have learned under the Sarabande umbrella in the ‘real world’. A true exercise in collaboration and sharing, it’s about just making it happen. We remove all barriers (without transgressing health and safety), so that they can be bold – anything (and we mean anything) goes.
These skills they learn, from how to work to strict timelines to presenting their work at a high level, are invaluable.
This isn't necessarily about making sales, as the exhibition is supported entirely by Sarabande at no cost or commission. This is about being bold, creative and pushing the boundaries of all they have learnt over the residency year. In the heart of East London, we are able to dispose of the rising pressure faced by artists and curators as the high walls of rents increase each year. Our driving mission is at play here in full force – equal access to opportunity and the ability to ensure nothing is standing in the way of them reaching their full, unleashed creative potential.
For ‘A Place,’ Adam explores their emotional response to the building with an installation/performance piece. Reflecting on all who have come before and those who will come after, they will slowly dissolve into the installation during the performances, becoming a part of the space. The pieces are covered in airtight latex, and by using their breathing, they vacuum themselves inside, becoming one with the environment and blurring the line between human and building.
Aiming to explore the functional ability and durability of the materials Emmely uses, she has created a water fountain sculpture for ‘A Place’. Emmely’s paper mache art works are rooted in found objects, and recycling that which has been discarded, breathing new life into objects that would otherwise be left aside. She hopes to encourage the viewer to reconsider how we live with sculpture, and how it traverses across form and function.
For ‘A Place’, Almudena will show a miniature of her project ‘Farming a Photograph’. This art-science project uses genetic differences in wheat and other grasses that result in photosynthesis-based colour variations to produce the largest photographic artwork ever made.This miniature piece represents a fundamental bridge between the digital simulations she has made and the macro production of what will be the largest photographic artwork ever produced. Computer-generated images based on plants' genetic information will become a real living photograph for the first time.
Anna has created ‘Cave Canem’ (Beware of the Dog), especially for ‘A Place’, a limited edition book inspired by the mosaics found in the doorways of Pompeii’s ruins. The book tells the story of a hound wandering the ancient city’s streets.
The visual narrative delves into generational memory, the aftermath of natural disasters and the artist’s own ancestry. The drawings have been crafted mixing digital and traditional drawing techniques inspired by Pompeii’s ruins and the remnants of the eruption.
For Banita’s work in the group show, she will be presenting her largest work to date - an exercise in focus, endurance, and submission. Working with henna to paint, she pipes straight lines to fill the canvas, creating an emphasis on the process over the outcome, accepting errors, avoiding corrections, and using the absolute minimal guidance to set the line. The result will be a canvas replete with raised lines of henna, celebrating the variability of the hand craft, the temporality of the earthy material, and its impact on her perception of value, beauty and what is ‘right’.
For the summer show Darcey will be presenting some of her discarded baling twine sculptural works in two different spaces. The first space will house an ‘immersive’ installation on the ground floor: a recreation of her Sarabande studio. In the main gallery upstairs, Fleming will present a minimal number of pieces. This body of work explores material, place, and how different environments change how Fleming’s work exists. Fundamentally, these themes are autobiographical. Fleming will also be presenting a poem.
Creating his largest canvas to date, Daniel compares the transitional time his practice has experienced during his time at the foundation to the in-between spaces and the unknown. Relishing in the uncomfortable feelings as his practice developed from his work as a tattoo artist, to a visual artist, changing from skin to canvas and paper, his work for ‘A Place’ is a physical manifestation of this period.
Dean touches on the human spirit that's conserved in soft toys through a lifetime of companionship, and how this bond is taken to the grave. For ‘A Place’ Dean intends to birth new life into hand-me-down toys by inverting them, stuffing them with love, and providing new context to them by displaying them within an object, such as withered flowers or a worn fence.
By presenting familiar objects altered to distance them from their cultural and personal reference points, George hopes to share works for ‘A Place’ which capture the liminal spaces inhabited by the body through the material objects held in nostalgic muscle memory. For the show, two hand-carved wooden umbrellas will be lent again the wall, one is expensive and antique looking, the other is mass produced and cheap.
"Best Chair" is a sculptural piece inspired by Thomas Chippendale's "Best Bed" and the cultural significance of prized, yet often unused, furniture in working-class homes. This life-size chair, crafted from plaster, is entirely covered with a mosaic of replica Delftware ceramics, evoking the intricate beauty of a 17th-century Dutch tulipiere vase.
For ‘A Place’ Jo hopes to raise questions about the interplay of function versus frivolity and considers the roles of those who create and those who acquire ornamental art. This work challenges viewers to reconsider the value and purpose of decoration and craftsmanship in the modern world.
For ‘A Place’ John has created a new installation of paintings and an interactive video game which delves into the alienation and feelings of disenfranchisement faced by social minorities and creatives. Using humour and satire, he aims to highlight the absurdities of modern culture and contradictions within late stage capitalism.
Koby hopes to look at liminal spaces through creating paintings of, in his mind, the ultimate ‘in-between’ space; windows. The windows in his paintings create a threshold between the viewer and a focal point just beyond the realm of the work. Playing upon the uncertainty of the unknown, and the merging of public and private, Koby invites the viewer to embrace their voyeuristic side as a means to broaden perspective.
For ‘A Place’ Leyman has created a work framed on the ground to allow for furher audience engagement, looking closely at motion, movement and time, inspired by Eadweard Muybridge. The figures and narrative consistently draw connection between the movements of his internal thoughts and everyday experiences, bringing about striking collisions of emotionally charged images.
Lulu reflects on the theme of “A Place” by presenting a medium-scale 3D-printed sculpture that is digitally cast on live human bodies. Wang sees the body as a space to be connected with others and surroundings while preserved by its own. Through a reconstructing process referred to as “Puzzling” in Wang’s work, a place that holds both alien and familiar feelings is harmonised by the morphing bodies.
Malgorzata explores the social, political and psychological context of fashion and clothing, creating objects that balance the uncanny, the absurd and the unreal. The installation at the Summer Group Show will consist of several humanoid-like sculptures that will be formed into shapes inspired by anomalies of the biological world and social interactions. The objects will be arranged in a sitespecific composition that will reflect a moment frozen in time, like actors caught in the middle of their transformation.
Matija Čop’s visual language constructs itself from selected unit elements that are iteratively combined, reconfigured, and dissolved with project-specific logic. The results reflect tensions between order and disorder, manufacture and craft, and unit and system. For the group show, he will present a 5m x 50cm suspended sculpture titled "Breathing Again," translating the unspoken sounds of physical presence. The sculpture is monumental yet fragile and hollow, reverberating with the impossibility of rendering concretely that which is ephemeral.
Like removing an octave from the piano and placing it on a wall, ‘Interval 16 :15’ created for ‘A Place’ consists of a series of carefully tuned strings installed in accordance with the architecture and acoustics of the gallery space. Ambient sound, samples, radio, and feedback loops cause the strings to vibrate, creating a generative and localised music that resonates the walls of the room. In Noah’s work, sound is treated as a distinctly physical phenomena, a connective tissue that intimately links us to one another and to the spaces we inhabit.
Lloyd
For the Sarabande Summer Show, Sophie will present her Mannequins; a series of figurative sugar sculptures that hint to the products that once adorned them. A tug on a sleave becomes an itch on the arm and fingers point to nothing. The Mannequin’s painted faces can be seen from interlocking multidimensional panes revealing their dissatisfied expression from all angles. The piece plays with planes of sight, seeking depth but locked into two dimensional being. It references the relationship between the influencer and the influenced.
Stephen Akpo
Stephen is exhibiting a triptych painting in oil paint. The work explores ‘Superposition’ concept in quantum physics which states that light can be both a wave and a particle, both off and on, present or absent at the same time. A cat can be both dead and alive, and you only notice the difference once you observe it.
Stephen will be presenting work that explores this theory by juxtaposing contrasting colours, such as warm and cool tones and by blending light and shadow, inviting viewers to explore the multiple facets of the artwork and the inherent tension between opposing elements.
Artist Story:
Paolo does fashion differently: poetic, romantic, slow – he’s a very Sarabande designer. In an industry that prioritises pace, Sarabande has been the steady environment he needed to grow.
It’s no secret that navigating the peaks and troughs of establishing a label isn’t a walk in the park. With time, however, Paolo’s distinct visual signature has made its mark on the London fashion scene and he has thrived.
Paolo joined Sarabande Hertford Road in 2021, where he was an artist-inresidence for two years. Feeling that he needed additional support and time to achieve the recognition his work deserved, Sarabande extended his residency at Sarabande High Road with a larger studio in 2023. Additional space allowed Paolo to really get stuck into the ins and outs of a working studio – space to pack orders, develop the business side of the brand and build a team.
Sarabande’s Paris showrooms were kickstarted by a conversation with Paolo and he was a key player for its two seasons. This alleviated significant costs and facilitated connections in industry – it was about DIY. Talking of industry connections, Sarabande introduced Paolo to mentors Carlo Brandelli and Gino Da’Prato, who have consistently advised him throughout the past three years.
Each London Fashion Week, Paolo uses the gallery spaces in both Sarabande Hertford Road and Sarabande High Road to hold hair and make-up tests, castings and fittings. With 24-hour access, these spaces very much become his home. A bustling overspill of creative energy and enthusiasm, it’s a space where collaborators, musicians, movement directors and stylists create magic.
Over the course of his residency, he has used the space for pre-show preparations for five seasons for an average of four days each. At market rent of £3,000 per day, this has saved Paolo in the region of £60,000 for this purpose alone.
Paolo Carzana is the Welsh designer behind eponymous label Paolo Carzana. Working with plant-based, recycled, organic and repurposed materials, natural dyes and handmade construction, Paolo’s garments explore the tensions between strength and fragility.
Paolo stocks with House of Bandits.
by Henry Gorse
Over the Pond
At Sarabande HQ we have a therapy room. No actual therapy goes on, but there are comfy sofas and open ears, so the surroundings do lend themselves to vulnerable conversations, advice sessions, tales of success and tales of woe.
Sarabande has been endowing scholarships since 2012. Over the course of a decade we noticed a pattern: once their studies are complete, our scholars often seek the comfort of the therapy room. They, like most bright-eyed and bushy tailed recent graduates, have the same burning question: ‘What on earth do I do now?’. They’ve submitted their final project; university holds an all-singing, all-dancing showcase; the next week the ground shifts beneath their feet: the support system of university disappears.
The industry feels impenetrable; pattern-cutting feels like your only skill; you don’t know how to get that first step on the ladder; you feel like the only one that’s failing. There are a hundred iterations of these anxieties.
To combat this collective ‘rabbit in the headlights’ moment, Sarabande began ‘What Now?’ – a now annual series of workstations and events with on-the-ground voices in industry to provide invaluable insight and advice to students on how to navigate their next steps.
As much in New York City as in London, a huge void exists between the safety of college and the reality of the working world. Our hunch that this feeling wasn’t just a UK problem was calcified by our friends across the pond, and ‘What Now? NYC’ was put into motion.
Hosted by our good friends at The Standard, East Village, Sarabande organised a full day of free dropin sessions on May 7th for graduates and young creatives to receive one-to-one advice with industry professionals.
True to Sarabande’s belief that the industry is stronger when united, we were astounded by the support from brands and thrilled to host 23 brands under one roof. Understanding how important it is to support the creative industry’s next generation, each brand generously donated their time. LVMH, Thom Browne, Coach, Nordstrom, Hermès and WWD were just a handful of the brands who joined forces, with more than 90 expert voices contributing to the conversation.
It’s important to Sarabande that the barriers to entry to receive advice are as low as possible. We wanted to ensure that this opportunity was also open to those that have not been afforded the privilege to attend college. ‘What Now?’ tickets were free and we chose a location that was inviting and comfortable.
And (!) just the simplicity of 250-plus graduates coming together in one room is instrumental in them realising they are not alone with this feeling – there is comfort in their shared experience. This is why it is important that ‘What Now?’ continues to be a hands-on, in-person event, as opposed to just a digital webinar.
The Sarabande team worked hundreds of hours over five months to reach over 100 institutions and collectives and 1.8 million digital profiles. And the hard work paid off – our first ‘What Now? NYC’ was a sell out. More than 1,000 sessions were held over the eight hours and the feedback from attendees alone made the 17,000 steps (each!) walked by the staff entirely worthwhile.
We were thrilled to bring this arm of Sarabande’s offering to NYC and, while we work on the dream that is a Sarabande building in NYC (with its very own therapy room), we hope this iteration of ‘What Now?’ is the first of many.
‘Thank you so much for the opportunity, this is helping me on my path to success. Please keep these events and thank you so much.’
– Ariel S Denis
‘Ya’ll were amazing. I had a great time connecting! This event was wholesome and a true gem! I wish more people knew about this.’
– Kia Ayers
‘Thank you so much for having this event. As a first-generation graduate student, opening the door to talk to people and being able to see and experience people in the fashion industry is so amazing! Thank you <3’
– Alexandra Reyes
‘Thank you so much for hosting this event. Fashion is both an intriguing and intimidating industry and I am so grateful for creating this space for facetime with people we would have no access to otherwise! :)’
– Malcolm Costa
Ensuring that our London counterparts weren’t left high and dry, we hosted our fourth instalment of ‘What Now? London’ in July. Held across two days this year, we had 72 representatives from brands such as Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Craig Green, Dazed, Christie’s, Burberry, ArtRabbit, Nike and more join us to dish out advice to young hopefuls. With 1,500 sign-ups, this year was (again!) a sell out.
Continuing the ever-popular portfolio masterclass was Creative Search’s Stephanie Finnan, who whisked attendees through the ABCs of acing your creative portfolio, with a case study on a Loewe design application. The next evening, Jeii Hong moderated a panel talk with Jack Sunnucks, Ellis Jaz and Xenab Lone to combat post-college panic and squash the idea that any one creative path is better than any other.
Artist Story:
George joined the Sarabande family as a Final Year Project Award Scholar at Slade School of Fine Art. This is where final year students are given a sum of money to bring their vision to life – without the fund, the student would not be able to accurately execute their idea.
George initially proposed a concept for this final year that Sarabande felt deviated from his existing strong and heartfelt work. Sarabande worked closely with George to help develop the project in a way that would best reflect his practice – supporting him with mentorship in addition to financial aid.
Upon graduating, Sarabande were happy to be able to offer George a studio in our High Road complex. He voiced his struggles to find a space with upcoming shows on the back of his exciting body of work born from his degree show, and we wanted to alleviate this concern. Offering a permanent studio space has allowed him the freedom to continue developing his vision.
Sarabande’s introductions have enabled partnerships with Soho House, where George has been commissioned to make works for its new Manchester venue, and has expanded his network.
We were happy to take George as the Sarabande feature artist for our New York City iteration of ‘Woven’ – a fundraiser to celebrate our rich creative landscape. This was an opportunity to be spotlit among some of the industry’s most notable figures. George transformed the penthouse of The Standard East Village into a surreal games room, with the tabletop elevated into playful snooker tables. His Lovers sculpture was acquired by Adam Selman and Daniel Roseberry, and he made significant sales to the president of AFOS Francesca Amfitheatrof and Tara Carroll of Apparatus, followed by exciting coverage in American Vogue. As well as the evening, the trip enabled George to meet many gallerists and industry personnel at a cultural event where the beginnings of several exciting conversations were had.
George stocks with House of Bandits.
‘The support Sarabande gave to me has benefited me more than I can explain. For starters, it meant that I was able to afford to create a series of sculptures that brought together five years of thought around sculpture, painting and installation for my degree show. This meant the world.
‘Since then, a place on the residency has helped me greatly to navigate my next steps after my masters. I’ve been supported so much and introduced to incredible artists, friends, mentors and industry experts who I’ve met in the studios. My studio at Sarabande has become my home from home, the perfect place for ideas and experimentation.’
Established in 2020, the House of Bandits is the go-to place where you can immerse yourself in and purchase the most exciting art, fashion, jewellery and creative design. The project’s name comes from ‘Sarabandits’, a phrase coined by fashion journalist Tim Blanks, which perfectly describes our anarchic approach and our ground-breaking creatives. They’re by no means thieves and robbers, but many of them shrug off traditional paths to forge their own way. The ‘House’ describes both the space that we now inhabit at 794 High Road in Tottenham - a décor that feels like a home, with listed fireplaces and a large green sofa to lounge in - but it’s also a house for a family, the Sarabande community.
The project was originally launched during the pandemic, when our events programme and studio visits were put to a halt. At the time, fashion shows and exhibitions were being cancelled, stores remained cautious in their buys and regular visitors to the studios were kept away by travel restrictions. House of Bandits was created to provide our artists with an alternative space beyond their studios where, in the true spirit of Sarabande, their work could be shown under one roof and be presented together.
House of Bandits’ story began with a pop-up in Mayfair, where Sarabande took over the stunning space at 5 Vigo Street, adjacent to the Burberry Regent Street store. The venue showcased a vibrant mix of visual art, fashion, craft, photography, ceramics, jewellery and more, all representing the full breadth of creativity that Sarabande supports. In addition to offering visitors the chance to buy the best new contemporary art, the store featured specially commissioned fashion and accessories from Sarabande alumni like John Alexander Skelton, Stefan Cooke and Roberts Wood. And for those unable to visit the store in person, all artworks and designs were made available online at www.sarabandefoundation.org.
We are proud to have taken our ‘House’ around the world this year, starting with a one-day pop-up store in Soho House White City. Joining their International Women’s Day celebrations on March 8th, we spotlit the works of 30 female-presenting artists, jewellers and fashion designers. From sugar sculptures to lipstick paintings, the pop-up featured pieces by Bianca Saunders, Evie O’Connor, Kirico Ueda, Rosie Gibbens, Mairi Millar, Michelle Marshall, Shirin Fathi, Darcey Fleming and Camilla Hanney, to name a few. We caught Soho House members as they exited the gym, grabbed coffee, waited for meetings or attended panel talks. Our pop-up also attracted representatives from top art institutions, renowned British artists and art specialists, all there to participate in Soho House’s International Women’s Day 'Art Invasion' events.
Only a few weeks later, our bestselling Sarabande-exclusive plates travelled to New York City for our fundraiser dinner hosted by Aimee Mullins and Rupert Friend. Sold as pairs or as a full set, our limited-edition fine bone china plates feature designs by leading figures Tim Burton, Alexander McQueen, Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli, Sir Ridley Scott, Francesca Amfitheatrof and Jake Chapman. A musthave for elegant tables.
House of Bandits is supported by a global clientele. Through us, Sarabande artists enjoy international renown, with their artworks and designs making waves in cities like Miami, New York, Milan, and Paris. It’s a fantastic opportunity, allowing them to showcase their talent to Sarabande’s ever-growing network of patrons, HNWis, creative professionals, industry figures and many others. Along with single purchases, clients have asked House of Bandits to oversee bigger projects and offer curated artwork lists for entire properties. We did this for the first time with interior design company Spinocchia Freund, working together on two private residences in Chelsea, displaying a diverse range of pieces by Sarabande artists including James Tailor, Lucy Jagger and Almudena Romero.
Sarabande’s approach to a gallery and retail space is nonconformist. Our concept of luxury is different. For us, luxury isn’t about expensive packaging or branding; it’s about the quality of the work and the experience of meeting the artist who created it. House of Bandits, primarily existing as pop-ups, is able to shapeshift into whatever it needs to be. From creating bountiful, eye-catching high street window displays to dressing floor-to-ceiling shelves, we make an impact wherever we go. Our displays combine countless disciplines, offering visitors a unique 360-degree view of the emerging creative sphere. That’s what makes us special; there’s no one like us.
When Kasia joined Sarabande, she had honed her craft to a T, but had yet to secure significant titles for editorial work. We knew that her being here would position her in front of the right eyes –those who truly appreciate her craft.
In her time here, she has done multiple shoots for 10 Magazine (including Stephen Jones and a feature on Sarabande) and Vogue, and extended her network. Sarabande was able to put her in touch with Michael Hoppen of Michael Hoppen Gallery and Camilla Lowther of CLM – both are esteemed opinions in the London photography world. In her words: ‘Ah-may-zing’!
Kasia has been encouraged to frame her practice as a lens not only for fashion editorials, but also to develop its place in the art landscape. We also think it’s true to say, her Sarabande journey (so far) has been a whirlwind: she has exhibited as part of Sarabande’s group shows and felt comfortable in this space, spurring her on to participate in three simultaneous exhibitions in early 2024.
Kasia uses the early wet-plate collodion photography as her medium. With her Victorian camera, she interrogates ‘truth’ in photography and questions how we experience the time present and time past. Kasia began her residency in 2022 and, knowing that 2023 would bring some punchy work for which she would need support, Sarabande extended her residency to our Sarabande High Road Studios.
‘I feel that being at the Sarabande Foundation has opened many doors for me. I have met wonderful people who visited, and also artists during my time here. It feels like the seed of my work has been planted and new projects and collaborations are growing. I also felt safe and supported by everyone who works at the foundation; there’s always someone to talk to and I don’t want to leave!!!’
Kasia Wozniak
It’s one thing to buy a beautiful, easy-on-the-eye landscape painting for your living room – collecting from emerging artists is a brilliant way to support their careers. However, it is so rare (almost unheard of) for an artist to be paid to make new work; to experiment; to push the boundaries.
There’s no shying away from it: money is a necessary evil. And so the luxury of spending time to make pilot works that play with new scale, materiality and thematics is one that many artists can’t afford. If there is a pressure for a new work to be sellable (and this often crosses over with being digestible), then it’s unlikely that this new work will move the needle.
This is where Sarabande’s commissions come in. By removing the financial barriers, our artists can unleash their fearless creativity without limitations. From here, parameters are tried, probed and pushed, and our collective arts landscape is enriched. This year, Sarabande was happy to facilitate 15 commissions.
We love our partnership with Dom Pérignon. There are the obvious reasons (which we’ll leave to you to decide) and because, without fail, they give the green light to our bonkers suggestions for commissions to activate our collaborative events.
To celebrate ‘A Night of Creative Work’, Sarabande and Dom Pérignon took over Mount St Restaurant’s The Scottish Room with demonstrations of creative processes by Robert Cooper, Taryn O’Reilly and Rosie Gibbens. With A-list faces and press in the room, this was an opportunity to have their work in front of all the right eyes.
Taryn O'Reilly
For Robert, the commission was an opportunity to apply his technique to a different context: working with his signature dynamic brushstrokes, Robert populated the 10 metre long tablecloth with flamboyant deers and florals – his largest work to date. Posed with the creative challenge of a sitespecific space, the adaptation of the work was a chance to move his work off the walls and present it in an alternative manner.
Taryn dressed the tablescape with 5 handmade gothic ceramic candelabras. An extension of her exploration of the Monstrous Feminine table, this commission allowed Taryn the funds to experiment with more elevated materials; an opportunity to take her practice to the next level and to realise her vision with greater precision.
Rosie entertained guests with Planned Obsolescence, a performance that is part of a larger BODY of work that includes sculpture, video and works on paper. This series takes, as its starting point, the outdated joke of an office worker photocopying their body parts. There is something enjoyably rebellious about inserting the unruly and possibly sexual body into corporate space.
Why spend a fortune on perishable floral decorations when you could allocate this budget to Sophie Lloyd to create long-lasting (and practice-expanding) sugar sculpture portraits of the industry’s most influential people? For our ‘Woven’ fundraiser at The Standard, London (the biggest night of our year), Sarabande commissioned Sophie to render Camilla Lowther CBE, Marina Abramović, Sandy Powell OBE, Giles Deacon, Yinka Ilori MBE and Daniel Roseberry of Schiaparelli in her sugar signature.
In addition to being paid for the commission, this opportunity also gave Sophie space to try out new techniques not yet attempted. From gilding gold on to her sculptures for Daniel Roseberry to creating the illusion of checked fabric using a method inspired by fused-glass technique for costume designer Sandy Powell, Sophie reflected the characters of the people she was portraying.
This was a huge profile-raising exercise for Sophie and, with her pieces as the prize gifts for our Sarabande auction, her work now lives in the collections of several creative leaders in the London arts scene.
With a skip across the pond for American Friends of Sarabande’s night of ‘Woven’ magic, George Richardson was tasked with transforming the dining space into a playful games table. Sarabande covered significant material and production costs, with in-kind flights and accommodation.
With his merry troupe of brass snooker-chalk editions, playing-card paintings, reams of snooker table felt and The Lovers snooker cue sculpture, Sarabande flew George out to the big apple.
The Penthouse at The Standard, East Village is one of the chicest spaces to host your first site-specific installation. With panoramic views over the cityscape, George’s entwined snooker cue sculpture took pride of place in a room he transformed into a world of his own. Spatial application of his distinct visual language pushed the boundaries of his practice and was a great-profile raising opportunity: his works were acquired by designer Adam Selman, Louis Vuitton Jewellery and Watches artistic director Francesca Amfitheatrof, and Apparatus president Tara Carroll, so George returned home with healthy earnings.
Being in New York City on the most creative week of the year (Frieze NYC and The Met) was a great networking opportunity for George. He forged strong industry connections over the week, as well as meeting private collectors and gaining press coverage from publications such as Vogue.
For International Women’s Day, 10 female presenting artists (both past and present) exhibited Earth Monsters – a group show exploring the relationship between nature and (female) gender. Supported by Victoria’s Secret, Sarabande commissioned all 10 artists to push boundaries with new bodies of work and covered production costs to enable a platform for this showcase to be shared with the wider world. In addition to the public access, Sarabande digitally scanned the exhibition via The Net Gallery to allow eyes from all over the world to enjoy the show.
Participating artists were Kuniko Maeda, Almudena Romero, Kasia Woniak, Saelia Aparicio, Shannon Bono, Jo Grogan, Paloma Tendero, Darcey Fleming and Lulu Wang. Unlike with traditional commissions, Sarabande does not acquire the pieces made. This means that the artists have the chance to sell the artworks and increase financial gain.
The show was curated by Shirin Fathi, who was also commissioned for her contribution.
With Sarabande’s support, Earth Monsters was a brilliant profile-raising opportunity: more than 400 visitors walked through the doors (including from major London institutions such as the Wellcome Collection, the V&A, The Photographer’s Gallery and Whitechapel Gallery) and press coverage was received from ShowStudio, Hole & Corner, FAD and more.
‘The exhibition was a fantastic opportunity to be a part of, it was a great learning experience for me. The funding was essential as my material costs were high so this enabled me to buy the type of wood I needed to use, which is expensive and can be difficult to source. I met and talked to lots of interesting people.’ - Jo Grogan
Sarabande alumni and our current artists-in-residence have had a remarkably busy year, filled with career-building opportunities, prestigious awards and noteworthy shows. The next few paragraphs will bring you up to date with their numerous achievements.
Michaela Yeawood-Dan collaborated with Dior for the eighth edition of the Dior Lady Art Project, breathing new life into the iconic bag with her vibrant abstract landscapes. She also participated in Art Basel Hong Kong 2024, bringing her works to international attention once again. Michaela has exhibited in numerous shows, notably presenting ‘Some Future Time Will Think of Us’ at the Marianne Boesky Gallery in New York City. For the 200th anniversary of the National Gallery, Michaela has been commissioned to create new works for the Monet in York exhibition; the works will be displayed alongside Monet’s masterpieces.
Wet-plate photographer Kasia Wozniak had a remarkable year, taking her 160-year-old camera to Athens for Vogue Greece and to Paris for a 10 Magazine Noir Kei Ninomiya feature. Earlier in the year, Kasia shot a Sarabande feature for 10 Magazine's 10+ Issue 6 and continued the collaboration with a commissioned shoot of Stephen Jones in his studio. Not confined to the editorial sphere, Kasia also showcased her work in exhibitions at Izena and Guts Projects.
Paloma Tendero presented new works, On Mutability, at Bermondsey Project Space alongside many other photographers. She was also selected for the Xenia Creative Retreat, along with Izaak Brandt.
Izaak Brandt presented Fragile Defence, an exhibition featuring a commissioned video, sculptors and performance, held in Fitzrovia Chapel and curated by Carlo Brandelli and Ewa Wilczynski. Izaak was also commissioned by Adidas to create a sculpture for its Oxford Street store in London, celebrating its longstanding relationship with Hip-Hop.
Sticking entirely to his own lane, designer John Alexander Skelton presented his CXVI collection off-season at the stunning St Bartholomew the Great church. Inspired by the British music collective This Mortal Coil, the presentation featured models of all ages walking through the church holding candles, consolidating Skelton's refined and strong creative language.
Artist Louis Alderson Bythell, working under LAB, presented a public installation in Martigny, Switzerland, titled Lichen Clock. This bio-chronological town clock uses lichen to reflect the health of the town's air.
Castro Smith brought his finely crafted rings to Lane Crawford in Hong Kong, launching new pieces and offering an exclusive custom ring service. Castro also took his works to the states, first stopping in New York for the Museum of Arts and Design’s Mad About Jewellery, then to Las Vegas for The Couture Show, the annual premier event where the jewellery industry gathers to connect, collaborate and conduct business.
Renata Brenha had a year filled with Sarabande collaborations. She presented her AW24 collection, ‘Mineral’, and her SS25 collection. For her AW24 Paris Showroom, Renata teamed up with fellow High Road resident Emmely Elgersma to create a sculpture installation. Renata also showcased her collections with PARISER here at Sarabande, gaining recognition from Selfridges World of Sport. She also participated in the Challenge The Fabric Awards, collaborating with photographer Michelle Marshall to shoot her designs. Most recently, Renata Brenha unveiled her SS25
In addition to the showroom with Renata, PARISER presented their SS24 collection, ‘VESTIGE’, here at Sarabande, along with a fashion film for DiscoveryLAB directed by the label's founder Camille Liu. Camille was also interviewed and featured on the cover of Metropolitan magazine, a significant accolade for the French-Chinese designer, who often finds inspiration in the publication during her commutes. Most recently, PARISER debuted their latest collection, ‘No Fear of Time’.
Shannon Bono graduated from her MA Painting course at the Royal College of Art and showcased her works in numerous group shows, most notably in the Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation exhibition at the RWA, commissioned by King Charles III.
Jeweller Conor Joseph adorned FKA Twigs for the front cover of British Vogue, and his work has graced numerous editorials, including AnOther Magazine. He was also featured in an exclusive interview with 10 Magazine earlier in the year. Conor collaborated with Renata Brenha for her SS25 shoot as well.
Laila Tara H presented a new installation at Cooke Latham Gallery – the installation invited viewers to move through a ‘day’ as they navigate the walls of the gallery.
Photographer Almudena Romero presented new works at Saatchi's METAMORPHOSIS group exhibition.
Martina Kocianova, known for her mushroominspired gem carving and jewellery, was honoured with the National Award of Slovakia for Young Designer of the Year.
Hamed Maiye presented works at Frieze with Harlesden High Street and was featured in a fantastic Financial Times article, ‘Code Thread: The New Language of Art’.
Shirin Fathi exhibited Disobedient Nose at the Wellcome Collection Cult of Beauty exhibition and was selected for the Ingram Prize and Xenia’s Creative Retreat. Continuing her productive year, Shirin also presented her second performance to date at the V&A Late: ‘Feminist Futures’ titled Have you seen my nose?.
The Design Museum opened its exhibition REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion, guest curated by Sarah Mower MBE. The exhibition celebrated the 30th anniversary of the BFC’s NewGen programme and featured current and past Sarabande residents: Bianca Saunders, Craig Green MBE, Leo Carlton, Molly Goddard, Paolo Carzana, and Stefan Cooke.
Stefan Cooke debuted their SS24 collection, ‘AWAY’, which included a bag collaboration with Mulberry at London Fashion Week. This was followed by their AW24 collection, ‘Citizens Band’. The Mulberry bag collaboration was launched with special installations at Dover Street Market in London and Ginza. The duo were also shortlisted for the BFC Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.
Interdisciplinary artist Sian Fan presented Glimmer at Somerset House’s exhibition CUTE, inviting attendees into the interactive installation. She made her television debut discussing the work in an interview with ITV London. Sian also performed Gilded Bodies at 180’s Reference Point and showcased her new Secret Keeper sculptures alongside a workshop at the V&A Museum’s digital design weekend.
Anna Perach opened her solo exhibition, HOLES, at Gasworks London, receiving excellent feedback and press for her new body of work. She also presented the ‘Ecstasies’ performance from the exhibition at V&A Late: Feminist Futures.
Sarabande designers Aaron Esh, Leo Carlton, and Paolo Carzana were selected as recipients for the British Fashion Council’s NewGen 2024/25.
Aaron Esh presented his AW24 collection at London Fashion Week hosted at Sarabande; the show garnered excellent press coverage from Vogue, Financial Times, AnOther and more.
Sarabande scholar Torishéju Dumi had an extremely successful year. For her Paris debut with SS24, Naomi Cambell opened the show, after which she was featured on the cover of British Vogue for their Jan 2024 issue. Torisheju went on to dress Zendaya, be featured in the Met Exhibition “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” and stock in Dover Street Market with a special installation in Paris. Most recently, her look for Naomi was featured in the V&A’s Naomi: In Fashion.
For the 2023 Fashion Awards, with many of our designers in contention, we filled a table with our alumni and current residents, photographers, and artists, bringing as many creatives as possible along for the night of celebration. And celebrate we did: Bianca Saunders was awarded New Establishment Menswear Brand, and Aaron Esh and Paolo Carzana were nominated for the BFC Foundation Award Designer.
Bianca Saunders showcased her FW24 collection, ‘Nothing Personal’ and her SS24 collection, ‘Scratch’, while also winning the 2024 BFC/British GQ Designer Fashion Fund. Additionally, Bianca dressed Naomi Campbell for ELLE and Ghetts for his music video ‘Twin Sisters’.
Fashion artefact designer and 3D sculptor Leo Carlton presented their AR ‘static installation’ at London Fashion Week as part of NewGen. Leo's creations were worn by renowned Venezuelan artist Arca and featured prominently in SHOWStudio’s Fantastic Toiles fashion film directed by Nick Knight, while Paolo Carzana was also featured in the film.
Paolo Carzana presented his SS24 collection, ‘My Heart Is a River for You to Bend’, and his AW24 collection, ‘Melanchronic Mountain’, at London Fashion Week. The collections were noted among the top four shows of LFW by Cathy Horyn of The Cut, New York. His designs were prominently featured in the Design Museum’s REBEL exhibition, and two of his looks were selected by Andrew Bolton for The Met Museum’s Sleeping Beauties exhibition. Paolo also made a splash on the red carpet, dressing actresses Zendaya and Michaela Coel and began stocking at Dover Street Market Ginza in Japan.
Standing Ground and Paolo Carzana travelled to Paris for the LVMH semi-finals, both advancing to become LVMH Prize Finalists. This competition, judged by some of fashion's most influential figures, marks a monumental achievement for the two designers. The winner receives €400,000 and a year of tailored mentorship from a dedicated LVMH team.
Standing Ground debuted his SS24 collection ‘Tethys’ at London Fashion Week, marking his third collection for Fashion East. In addition to reaching the LVMH finals, Standing Ground dressed Beyoncé, Naomi Campbell and Florence Pugh.
Sarabande artist Urte Janus presented new works in the exhibition Wrack Line at the Arts SU gallery space. The exhibition delved into the intricate relationships between humans and non-humans within coastal environments and marine life forms.
Mab George Sanders collaborated with fellow Sarabande artist Joshua Beaty to present a show titled ‘Seeberious’ at Filet Gallery. Inspired by the chef Fanny Cradock, the show evolved over its duration and included multiple performances. Additionally, Mab held an experimental performance titled SissyFoot at Crypt Gallery.
Karina Bond launched her AW24 couture collection, ‘Frozen in Time’, and landed on the front cover of Cosmopolitan's June issue while also dressing icons like Roísín Murphy.
Zongbo Jiang went international, showcasing his films Climate Heroes and Gooood Planet, both originally shown through Sarabande at the Focus Art Fair in New York alongside Won Lee. Earlier in the year, Zongbo collaborated with WePresent to bring Climate Heroes to the big screens of Outernet London. His commercial success continued with a commission from Loewe to create a video for the digital wall in their new store in Gaozhai, Chengdu. Shortly thereafter, he joined Loewe for a panel discussion titled The Future of Fashion: Digital Appeal and Craft Revival’. Zongbo also participated in the V&A’s Speculative Reimaginings’ panel discussion earlier in the year.
DANSHAN unveiled their SS24 collection ‘Soliloquy’, emphasising the emotional needs of the wearer over practicality and functionality.
Molly Goddard showcased her SS24 and AW24 collections at London Fashion Week. Her AW24 collection drew inspiration from eBay watchlists and 1960s couture gowns. Brides-to-be who had commissioned the label to design their wedding gowns, were invited to the show.
Design duo WED Studio continued to redefine bridal fashion with their non-traditional designs, unveiling a bridal ready-to-wear collection announced exclusively with Vogue.
Photographer and filmmaker Rachel Fleminger Hudson directed a series of films for Miu Miu’s SS24 collection, imbuing the project with her distinctive style and visual language. Her photography was also featured on the cover of Dazed’s Spring 2024 issue.
AV VATTEV showcased their AW24 collection ‘Superculture’ and FW24 collection ‘Loud’, shooting both collections in the main space at Sarabande.
Artist and jeweller Emily Frances Barrett exhibited some of her pieces at London Craft Week 2024 at Selfridges in London, showcasing wearable art and sculptures that depict narratives from the past.
Painter Stephen Akpo unveiled new works in a group exhibition during London Fashion Week in June 2024. His paintings, exploring themes of grief, loss, and transformation, provided a poignant conclusion to the collaborative project.
Michaela Stark launched her new lingerie collection, the ‘Panty’ line, prominently featured in The New York Times, Dazed, and NYLON. Additionally, Stark collaborated with her photographer partner Raga Muñecas and stylist Alex Francisco to produce a 2024 calendar that embodies themes of freedom. Michaela also presented a 3 hour performance at Tate Britain, dressed in a full Michaela Stark couture look.
Artist and sculptor Matija Cop showcased his artwork at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Zagreb, Croatia. His exhibition featured a series of statuesque sculptures, including one towering at 17 metres high. The exhibition, a dual showcase, paired Matija’s sculptures with paintings by artist SunJing.
Multi-disciplinary artist Saelia Aparicio explored ecological themes with her installation Les Fleurs Du Mal at Bold Tendencies. The exhibition featured a series of post-human sculptures embodying ‘folly’. Saelia also exhibited her work in Material Girls and their Muses, a group show at VITRINE London. Additionally, her artwork was showcased at FUMI in LA, USA, and included in Contested Bodies, a project by The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery.
Celebrating his 10-year anniversary, designer Craig Green MBE launched a dual AW and SS24 collection. He unveiled his spring 2025 collection at his studio in Newham, marking a return to the runway and introducing a new trilogy. Craig also collaborated with Fred Perry, blending sportswear themes with his distinctive creative edge.
Visual artist Isabel Castro Jung was awarded the Newby Trust Award at Cockpit.
Photographer Sam Rock peppered his commercial work across major publications, working with Chloé for Pre-Fall 2024, Alaïa SS 24, Harper's Bazaar, and D La Repubblica.
Designer Clara Pinto honoured her South American heritage with the release of her FW24 collection ‘OMBU’, showcasing designs crafted using zero-waste techniques and precision pattern-cutting to reflect the distinctive shapes of the Ombu trees. Clara also debuted a short film titled WOOL COUTURE for DiscoveryLAB during June LFW here at our HQ, featuring the presentation of the capsule collection inspired by textile manipulation and sustainability.
Multi-disciplinary artist Daisy Collingridge celebrated her debut solo exhibition, Splanchnic, at TJ Boulting. She also participated in the Faisons Corps exhibition at the MAIF Social Club in Paris, alongside 14 other artists, with the show extending into 2025. Daisy also hosted a life drawing session at the V&A Late, teaching her approach to the human body.
Mult-idisciplinary artist Darcey Fleming marked International Women’s Day with an installation commissioned by Soho House’s Kate Bryan for ART INVASIONS at White City House, with support from Porsche.
Photographer Hannah Norton debuted a solo public exhibition in King’s Cross, lasting more than three months and showcasing portraits from her series "The Community Cookup / I Wish You Were Still Here". To launch the showcase, Hannah held an evening party with food and drink, spoken word, live music and DJ’s from the Tottenham community. Hannah also was commissioned by Kingswood Arts to capture documentary portraits of residents on the Kingswood estate. Following a visitor tour at Sarabande High Road, Hannah was also commissioned by Soho House to photograph their mentorship social impact programme, which took her across the UK, New York and Amsterdam to document the mentees.
Sarabande’s MFA Slade Scholars and Final Year Project awardees culminated their two years of study with a standout graduate show in June. Big congratulations to Natalya Falconer, Shona Waldron, Ya Lou, Bowen Zhang, Chloe Beddow and Anna Howard.
Similarly, our Central Saint Martin’s BAF and MAF scholars and Final Year Project awardees finished strong. Shaw Chen presented a collection for the BA Final Show that combined various print inspirations and techniques to reflect on the bond between mother and sons, while Yodea Marquel Williams closed the show with more sculptural pieces. Special congratulations to Inga Praskeviciute and Paula Mihovilović for wrapping up their MA course with such incredible imagination — but we wouldn’t expect anything less!
From Darcey’s first week in residence, her studio felt as if it had always been there. Without fail, every visitor has fallen in love with Darcey’s cornucopia that spills out of room 2. This has led to many fruitful partnerships facilitated by Sarabande. Soho House commissioned Darcey for their International Women’s Day Porsche installation and later for a 10-metre installation at Soho Farmhouse.
Darcey has jumped at every opportunity to meet Sarabande’s roster of mentors, including our bookkeeper, Gynette. This has helped her to take her practice to the next level – not only registering as a sole trader and truly establishing her creative business in this way, but also boosting her confidence and supporting her to determine the lens through which she wants her work to be seen. Darcey’s mentoring with Alice Black of Alice Black Gallery has been rewarding beyond the session, with Alice acquiring works and confirming Darcey’s first solo show in 2025.
Darcey’s year at Sarabande (so far) has spurred her to experience participating in group shows such as Earth Monsters – a group show run by female-identifying Sarabande artists both past and present.
Darcey Fleming works across sculpture, photography and performance With her self-developed weaving technique, Darcey knots found bailing twine as a battle with and rejoicing of her obsessive ‘need to make’. The results are sprawling, colourful and joyous.
Working with Duchess China 1888, Sarabande released a limited-edition collection of plates in collaboration with Alexander McQueen, Jake Chapman, Sir Ridley Scott and Francesca Amfitheatrof. In 2023, we grew the collection with Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli and Tim Burton.
While over the past few decades times have been hard for the traditional potteries of Stoke-on-Trent, Duchess China 1888 is a rare survival story, thriving thanks to the commitment and vision of its owners – Jason Simms and Andrew Tooth. Hailing from the heartland of bespoke tableware, the two friends purchased Duchess China, founded in 1888, and later revived by A.T. Finney in 1935. It remains one of the last operating bone-china manufacturers – the jewel in the heraldic pottery crown.
While production for the grand names of the Stoke-on-Trent potteries Wedgwood and Royal Doulton moved from the Midlands to Asia, Duchess is still operating from the Staffordshire factory, making finest quality bone-china dinnerware.
‘We begged, stole, borrowed and put our houses up to buy it,’ says Jason. It was, they believed, a sleeping giant steeped in craft and heritage. ‘We are tasked with taking the phoenix from the flames.’
With a style so distinct the adjective ‘Burtonesque’ was coined, Tim Burton has written, directed, and produced numerous iconic films. He is the mastermind behind cult favourites, box office smashes and inventive adaptations such as Beetlejuice, Batman, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands and Alice in Wonderland. Though his works have spanned numerous genres, each exudes his distinguished and distinct aesthetic. Alongside his motion picture oeuvre, Tim has delved into the varied worlds of exhibitions, short films, television series', music videoes and advertisements.
Labelled ‘the mistress of making jewellery you want to ooh over’, Francesca Amfitheatrof is currently Louis Vuitton’s Artistic Director of Watches and Jewellery. Responsible for designing one of Tiffany’s most iconic designs of this century, the Tiffany T, which was part of her first collection for the brand. Before exclusively designing for Tiffany and Louis Vuitton, she designed jewellery for Chanel and Fendi whilst working as both a curator and consultant for museums.
The Chapman Brothers burst onto the British art scene as part of the YBA exhibitions in the early 1990s. Their work can be characterised by an intrigue in the gory, often rendering monstrous figures in a seemingly naive style. Jake Chapman spoke at Sarabande in 2018 to a packed audience: his dialogue, focusing on work and inspiration, was intelligent, provocative, and witty. Recently, he was the guest judge on Sarabande’s scholarship selection at Slade School of Fine Art.
Artistic Director
The son of an artist-mother and grandmother before, creativity was destined for Texas born Daniel Roseberry. He has carried this into his design process through the visual language of dynamic sketching and classical fashion illustration. Now the Artistic Director of the storied Parisian couture house, Schiaparelli, his imaginative sensibility has resurrected the Maison’s most beloved and influential codes and iconography. Infusions of Daniel’s distinct visual vocabulary of repurposed denim, gold jewellery, moulded leather and breastplates have revived the house for the ‘modern woman’. Before his tenure at Schiaparelli, Daniel spent 10 years at the iconic American tailoring house Thom Browne where he worked up to head of design.
Alexander McQueen is a British luxury fashion house founded in 1992 by Lee Alexander McQueen. Distinctive for its innovative and uncompromising expression of unbridled creativity, the house represents the power of individuality, subversive strength and defiant elegance. Strength and fragility, light and darkness, innovation and tradition are always juxtaposed.
Having studied at the Royal College of Art, director and producer Ridley Scott proved he has an eye for creating his own masterpieces. He honed his craft by producing innovative narrative commercials, including the infamous Apple 1984 Super Bowl Commercial. The internationally renowned Alien became his watershed film. His cult hits include (but are certainly not limited to;) Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator and Black Hawk Down.
A Sarabande Icon
Lee Alexander McQueen, CBE held a fascination with Lepidoptera – the majestic forms, the diversity and etymology. But it is the death’s-head hawkmoth that has bewitched shamans, folklorists, poets, artists, and filmmakers (it was immortalised in The Silence of the Lambs) across the centuries. Ambassador Nick Knight, CBE gifted his image of the burning death’s-head hawkmoth as the symbol and mascot of the Sarabande Foundation. The moth’s determination and its ceaseless flight make it a fitting symbol for creative endeavour. As such, the Foundation reincarnates it in multiple different forms, including a recycled silver moth pin designed by Sarabande alumnus, jeweller Benjamin Hawkins. Each of the hand-crafted pins is hallmarked and packaged in a matchbox – ready and poised to shine in the dark and in the light.
Drawing further from The Silence of the Lambs, we conceptualised and realised our much-coveted moth mask, which playfully intersects darkness with just the right tinge of wit.
The Sarabande Foundation was established at the bequest of the late Lee Alexander McQueen CBE, as a charitable foundation to support creatively fearless emerging talent. Named after his Spring/Summer 2007 collection, Lee believed that creative minds, which have the potential to push boundaries and overturn prevailing orthodoxies, should be given the same opportunities he had enjoyed during his career.
Sarabande supports talent through three main streams of activity:
- Full-time scholarships and bursaries
- Subsidised/free studio space with extended support network for new businesses
- An extensive events programme with workshops and practical and inspirational talks
The support offered by Sarabande Foundation is unconfined to a singular art form, medium or discipline but centres around our founding principles of craft, quality, creativity, passion and unique vision.
As an individual or on behalf of an organisation, there are several ways in which you can help support Sarabande and continue the innovative legacy that enables the fearless creative minds of the future. We rely on our family of benefactors to play a vital role in supporting Sarabande’s key activities. From conceptualisation of our talks programme to the provision of affordable studios for artists, your support directly contributes to the longevity and future development of London’s leading independent arts organisations. We develop a close, reciprocal relationship with all our benefactors, giving you the opportunity to enjoy a bespoke package of benefits while enabling Sarabande support to flourish and increase artist opportunities.
The Sarabande family of patrons plays a vital role in supporting Sarabande’s key activities; from the development of our talks programme to the provision of scholarships and affordable studio space for artists. Each level of Patron Membership enjoys distinct special access to Sarabande and an individual set of privileges.
- Use of the Grade-II listed Sarabande space for a private event
- A private tour of Sarabande studios for a Guardian and six guests, with refreshments at the Sarabande Bar
- Handmade Gold Moth Pin – Sarabande’s logo and emblem
- Recognition on the Sarabande Supporters’ Board and on the website
Sarabande Guardian
From £30k per annum
Become a Sarabande Guardian and safeguard the support Sarabande offers to visionary emerging artists and designers. This level of support is for those who seek to make a paramount impact. A Guardian’s generosity will be instrumental to all that Sarabande aims to achieve.
- The opportunity to host an artist at home/ workplace
- The opportunity to build close relationships with Sarabande artists
- Invitations to shows and private events at other leading cultural organisations in London, including the V&A, Royal Academy of Arts, The Design Museum and the Serpentine Galleries
- Complimentary tickets for you and up to three guests with reserved seating for all talks in our events programme, including the ‘Inspiration Series’, with famous names from the art and creative worlds
- An invitation to the Summer Group Show Benefactors’ Preview, attended by artists, gallerists and leading figures in the creative industries
- An invitation to preview exhibitions co-hosted by the exhibiting artist
- Advance invitations to onsite events
From £20k per annum
Becoming a Sarabande Platinum Benefactor helps to safeguard the support that Sarabande offers visionary emerging artists and designers. It is an excellent way to enjoy a close involvement with Sarabande and directly influence what it can achieve.
In return, Sarabande Platinum Benefactors will enjoy:
- A private tour of Sarabande studios for you and six guests, with refreshments at the Sarabande Bar
- Handmade Gold Moth Pin – Sarabande’s logo and emblem
- Recognition on the Sarabande Supporters’ Board and on the website
- The opportunity to build close relationships with Sarabande artists
- Invitations to shows and private events at other leading cultural organisations in London, including the V&A, Royal Academy of Arts, The Design Museum and the Serpentine Galleries
- Complimentary tickets for you and up to three guests with reserved seating to all talks in our events programme, including the ‘Inspiration Series’, with famous names from the art and creative worlds
- An invitation to the Summer Group Show Benefactors’ Preview, attended by artists, gallerists, and leading figures in the creative industries
- An invitation to preview exhibitions co-hosted by the exhibiting artist
- Advance invitations to onsite events
From £10k per annum
Becoming a Sarabande Benefactor will engage you with our programme and foster a meaningful relationship with Sarabande Foundation. Your position as a Benefactor allows Sarabande to support the most creative emerging artists and designers.
In return, Sarabande Benefactors will enjoy:
- A private tour of Sarabande studios for you and six guests, with refreshments at the Sarabande Bar
- Recognition on the Sarabande Supporters’ Board and on the website
- Handmade Silver Moth Pin – Sarabande’s logo and emblem
- Invitations to private events at other leading cultural organisations in London, including the V&A, Royal Academy of Arts, The Design Museum and the Serpentine Galleries
- Complimentary tickets for you and up to three guests with reserved seating for all talks in our events programme, including the Inspiration Series, with famous names from the art and creative worlds
- Invitations to privately hosted offsite events, organised by Sarabande Foundation, including exhibition tours, studio visits and artist talks throughout the year
- An invitation to the Summer Group Show Benefactors’ Preview, attended by artists, gallerists and leading figures in the creative industries
- An invitation to preview exhibitions co-hosted by the exhibiting artist
-Advance invitations to onsite events
From £5k per annum
Becoming a Patron is synonymous with being part of the Foundation. It allows for a high level of engagement with the Sarabande Foundation CEO and events throughout the year.
In return, Sarabande Patrons will enjoy:
- Complimentary tickets for you and up to three guests with reserved seating for all talks in our events programme, including the Inspiration Series, with famous names from the art and creative worlds
- Invitations to privately hosted offsite events with Sarabande alumni, including exhibition tours, studio visits and artist talks throughout the year
- An invitation to the Summer Group Show Benefactors’ Preview, attended by artists, gallerists, and leading figures in the creative industries
- An invitation to preview exhibitions co-hosted by the exhibiting artist
- Acknowledgement on the ‘Thank You’ page of our website
From £3k per annum
We are pleased to invite you to become a Supporter of the Foundation, whose tailored benefit package includes:
- Invitations to offsite events with Sarabande alumni, including exhibition tours, studio visits and artist talks throughout the year
- An invitation to the Summer Group Show Benefactors’ Preview, attended by artists, gallerists and leading figures in the creative industries
- An invitation to preview exhibitions co-hosted by the exhibiting artist
- Advance invitations to onsite events
- Acknowledgement on the ‘Thank You’ page of our website
By pledging your support to Sarabande, you will be joining a select group of patrons who are passionate about supporting the new and want to encourage innovation, and help emerging talent. Sarabande values creative freedom for artists, allowing them to express their thoughts, and upholding the values of uniqueness of vision, craft, passion, respect and creativity.
We would be delighted to discuss the following levels of corporate support with you and develop a bespoke and mutually beneficial package.
£250k per annum ex VAT
As a company or organisation, we hope that there is brand alignment with Sarabande Foundation. As a Headline Partner, we would work with you to develop a tailored package of benefits that give you a range of opportunities to engage with us, our artists, and the wider creative community who support (and are supported by) Sarabande.
These could include, but is not limited to: using Sarabande's space for events; tickets to talks for you, your staff, or any guests. Subsequently, you would have post-event access to online discussions adjacent to email bulletins, reports, and newsletters – to communicate your support and demonstrate your commitment to the arts
Sponsor The High Road Gallery
£60,000 per annum ex VAT
Accessibility to art is vitally important both in how approachable it appears and in terms of geography. As a public space, The High Road Gallery offers an opportunity for the local community to engage and satiate their creative appetite in a beautiful Grade-II listed space. By supporting The High Road Gallery, you endorse this redistribution of cultural wealth and increase accessibility to the arts for N17 and neighbouring communities.
Your support will be honoured with a bespokedesigned identity plaque and you will also have the opportunity to hold private on-site events for your staff or clients in our gallery space and sculpture garden, invite them to a private tour of the Foundation and meet the artists, and access in-house produced digital content.
Sponsorship of the landscaped sculpture garden is available for an additional £50,000 per annum.
As a High Road Gallery Sponsor, we are delighted to offer you:
- A private tour of Sarabande and the artist studios for you and six guests, hosted by the director of the foundation, with complimentary refreshments at the Sarabande Bar
- Six complimentary tickets per event to all talks in our events programme across both venues encouraging your guests to engage with inspirational subject matter and meet artists and famous names within the art and creative worlds
- The opportunity to use the Grade II-listed Sarabande High Road space for a private event
- An invitation to the Summer Group Show Benefactors’ Preview, attended by artists, gallerists, and leading figures in the creative industries
- Your company name and logo on a premium plate located at the entrance of The High Road Gallery
- Your company name on the Sarabande Supporters board located in the entrance of the Sarabande buildings, visible to all visitors – more than 5,000 creatives, and professionals each year
- A visual logo on Sarabande’s website under the Sponsor page
- A printed page of your choice in the Sarabande Manifesto – the annual bible of the Foundation’s activities and mission shared over the year to our audience in the HNWI world in company with fellow creators
- A quarterly Impact Statement of the programme with insights into the artists working at the foundation, in addition to useful information and opportunities for integrated external engagement that will help bring corporate social responsibility to life
£20k-60k per annum ex VAT
Endorsing the expansion of Sarabande’s support to London’s international creative community, sponsors of our artist studios at Sarabande High Road are companies (and individuals) with a palpable connection to ‘hands-on’ artistry. Sponsoring a room means that you have the opportunity to demonstrate your direct support to artisans, makers, jewellers and designers with a strong visibility in our exceptional Grade-II listed space. At accumulative price points, you can choose to sponsor a small, medium, or large studio honoured with a beautifully designed identity plaque. You will also have the opportunity to hold private on-site events for your staff or clients in our gallery space and sculpture garden, invite them to a private tour of the Foundation to meet the artists, and access in-house produced digital content.
Sponsorships of the landscaped sculpture garden or public gallery space are available for £50,000 or £60,000 per annum, respectively.
As a room sponsor, we are delighted to offer you:
- A private tour of Sarabande and the artist studios for you and six guests, hosted by the director of the foundation, with complimentary refreshments at the Sarabande Bar
- Six complimentary tickets per event to all talks in our events programme across both venues, encouraging your guests to engage with inspirational subject matter and meet artists and famous names within the art and creative worlds
- The opportunity to use the Grade-II listed Sarabande High Road space for a private event
- An invitation to the Summer Group Show Benefactors’ Preview, attended by artists, gallerists, and leading figures in the creative industries
- Your company name on the Sarabande Supporters board located in the entrance of the Sarabande buildings, visible to all visitors – more than 5,000 creatives, and professionals each year
- Your company name and logo on a premium plate located at the entrance to your chosen studio or room
- A visual logo on Sarabande’s website under the Sponsor page
- A printed page of your choice in the Sarabande Manifesto – the annual bible of the Foundation’s activities and mission shared over the year to our audience in the HNWI world in company with fellow creators
- If relevant, invitations to join panel discussions that are appropriate to the area of your business, cementing your experience and connecting with the next generation of creatives
- A quarterly Impact Statement of the programme: insights into the artists working at the Foundation, in addition to useful information and opportunities for integrated external engagement that will help bring corporate social responsibility to life
The Creative Benefactor Programme
£15k per annum ex VAT
Our Creative Benefactor Programme is open to like-minded companies in the creative world. As a highly engaged workplace that fosters events and gatherings, Sarabande will help your employees connect with other co-workers and build relationships. By supporting Sarabande through the Creative Benefactor Programme, you will have the opportunity to engage with your staff by inviting them to our events programme of workshops, exhibitions, educational and inspirational talks. Patrons of this programme may also hold private onsite events for your staff or clients, invite them to a private tour of the Foundation and meet the artists, and access to our online content.
As a corporate benefactor, we are delighted to offer you:
- A private tour of Sarabande and the artist studios for you and six guests, hosted by the director of the Foundation, with complimentary refreshments at the Sarabande Bar
- Six complimentary tickets per event to all talks in our events programme across both venues encouraging your guests to engage with inspirational subject matter and meet artists and famous names within the art and creative worlds
- The opportunity to use the Grade-II listed Sarabande space for a private event
- An invitation to the Summer Group Show Benefactors’ Preview, attended by artists, gallerists and leading figures in the creative industries
- Your company name on the Sarabande Supporters board located in the entrance of the Sarabande building, visible to all visitors – more than 5,000 creatives and professionals each year
- A visual logo on Sarabande’s website under the Creative Benefactor Programme
- A printed page of your choice in the Sarabande Manifesto – the annual bible of the Foundation’s activities and mission shared over the year to our audience in the HNWI world in company with fellow creators
- If relevant, invitations to join panel discussions that are appropriate to the area of your business, cementing your experience and connecting with the next generation of creatives
- A quarterly Impact Statement of the programme: insights into the artists working at the Foundation, in addition to useful information and opportunities for integrated external engagement that will help bring corporate social responsibility to life
You may feel a significant brand alignment with aspects of our programme imbuing a sponsorship of a series of talks. Your brand can be present in the educational and business development of the most visionary emerging artists and designers, enabling future generations to flourish and their unique vision to be actualized. Each talk is filmed in broadcast quality, and we will provide you with content to share with your employees and network. These films may be valuable in demonstrating your commitment to creativity, innovation, and design.
In return for your sponsorship, we are delighted to offer you:
- Tickets to the sponsored on-site talks and events for your clients or employees, with the opportunity to meet and engage with speakers and audiences from across the creative industries
- Usage of your logo across all marketing and PR collateral associated to the talks series – online, on our ticketing, slides at the talks, and any press releases and marketing materials
- Our co-operation ensuring maximum coverage across our social media platforms, and express our gratitude to you in all our social communications. You would benefit from our audience interaction and reach, which is significantly higher than industry average
- An Instagram video clip edited in-house for you to share on your social media
- Usage from a selection of photos taken throughout the events for internal distribution or to share on your social media
Sarabande Foundation was founded upon the legacy of Lee Alexander McQueen to ensure that emerging talent are allowed the opportunity to be bold, fearless and creative without boundaries. The Foundation would not be possible without support from across the creative industries –individuals and companies sharing belief in our goals.
Tier 1: £5,000 – £15,000 ex VAT
In return for this support we are delighted to offer you:
- Credit for your support featured on our website following ‘With thanks to…’
- Three complimentary tickets to each talk in our events programme for you and your guests
- Access to online content for internal use
- A quarterly Impact Statement keeping you and your teams updated with our activities and the undertakings of the visionary creatives who make up the Sarabande alumni
Tier 2: £2,000 – £5,000 ex VAT
In return for your support, we are delighted to offer you:
- Three complimentary tickets to each talk in our events programme for you and your guests
- Access to online content for internal usage
- A quarterly Impact Statement keeping you and your teams updated with our activities, and the undertakings of the visionary creatives who make up the Sarabande alumni
gfsmith.com @gfsmithpapers @colorplan_papers
As a registered charity, we welcome all donations, no matter what size. Your donation can qualify for tax relief under Gift Aid if the donor is a UK taxpayer. By which, the foundation can claim 25p for every pound donated. For example, if you have donated £1,000, we can claim an extra £250 from HMRC with no additional costs – a significant difference to our charity’s income.
Likewise, being a higher rate taxpayer would allow you to claim the difference between the rate you pay and the base rate on your donation. For example, if you pay 40% tax rate and donate £5,000, you are entitled to claim £1,000 (20%) from HMRC. Effectively, your donation to Sarabande Foundation would only cost you £4,000.
American Friends of Sarabande’s mission is to raise awareness for the activities and programme of the Sarabande Foundation in the US and overseas to enhance the foundation’s services for emerging creatives.
American Friends of Sarabande is a publicly supported, tax-exempt organisation under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code and is eligible to receive tax deductible charitable contributions within the limits prescribed by law.
If you are a US citizen and would like to donate to us, you can make your tax-deductible donation payable to American Friends of Sarabande, Inc. via the website: www.afosarabande.org.
For further enquiries, please email info@afosarabande.org.
TIN: 84-1472246
Sarabande Foundation extends its support beyond art forms, mediums and disciplines. It supports scholars studying art, design, and fashion at institutions of excellence across the UK and studio residents working in areas as diverse as jewellery, video art, performance, and photography. Your help is vital in ensuring the continued offer of world-class support to the next generation of creative talent in London.
To arrange a visit to Sarabande Foundation and to discuss how to get involved, contact us here:
Sarabande Foundation 22 Hertford Road Haggerston, London N1 5SH
T: +44 (0) 2038148630
Sarabande Foundation High Road 792 - 794 High Road Tottenham, London N17 0DH
T: +44 (0) 2038148631
@sarabandefoundation www.sarabandefoundation.org
CIO No.1153464
“Give me time and I’ll give you a revolution”
– Lee Alexander McQueen
Sarabande Would Like to Thank:
Adam Selman, Agnes Kenny, Aidan Meller, Aimee Mullins, Aimee Phillips, Alan Carruthers, Alex Monroe, Alexander Giantsis, Alexander McQueen, Alice O’Reilly, Alistair McCallum, Alyne Hansen-Damm, Alyssa Auberger, Amanda Deveraux, Amber Asher, Amy Cockram, Amy Rainbow, Andrea Schlieker, Andrew Bolton, Andrew Keith, Andrew Linares, Andrew Mandall, Andy Tooth, Angelos Tsourapas, Anh Nguyen, Anika Pivarnik, Annette Masterman, Antonia Their, Apparatus, Arianne Scott, Art + Commerce, Audrey Furmanovich, Becky Maddison, Ben Hooper, Bianca Roden and the Roden Family, Blue Gaydon, Brigitta Freund, Bunny Kinney, Burberry, Calandra Caldecott, Calum Knight, Camilla Lowther OBE, Carlo Brandelli, Caroline Roux, Caroline Smith, Casamigos Tequila, Catherine Russell, Cavan McPherson, Celine, Charlie Porter, Charlie Thomas, Charlotte Cutler, Charlotte Knight, Charlotte Leseberg Smith, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Cherry Rao, Chris Ofili, Claire Tillotson, Claudia Ward, Clémence Cointy, Craig Green, Craig McLean, Cristina Colomar, Daisy Hoppen, Dale and Jamie Gould, Dalston’s, Damian Bradfield, Damian Totman, Dan May, Daniel Levy, Daniel Roseberry, Daniel Rudd, Danielle Thom, David Bailey, David Collison, David Waddington, Dea Vanagan, Delphine Bellini, Denisa Palsha, Dickon Bowden, Dior, Dom Pérignon, Donna Choi, Dover Street Market, Duchess China 1888, Eddie Redmayne OBE, Edmund de Waal, Elena Garcia Servent, Elinor Lloyd, Elli Jafari, Emily Steer, Emily Taylor, Emma Cosgrove, Emma Lang, Emma Restall, Emma Wingfield, Erica Travis, Ewa Wilczynski, Ewan Venters, Fendi, Fiona McCarthy, Fortnum & Mason, Francesca Amfitheatrof, G.F.Smith, Gabriela and Austin Hearst, Gareth Harris, Gary Jackson, Gemma Colgan, Gemma Ebelis, Gemma Rolls Bentley, Gena Smith, George Richardson, Georgia Holt, Giles Deacon, Giles Moulder, Gina Kouvara, Gino Da Prato, Greg Milne, Greg Skinner, Greg Wilson, Gwendoline Christie, Gynette Dowou Yonkio, Hannah Crewe, Hannah James, Hannah Redmayne, Hannah Ridley, Harper’s Bazaar, Harriet Quick, Hayley Cross, Hetty Mahlich, Hikari Yokoyama, Hugh Monk, Ipsa Dhariwal, Iris van Herpen, Isaac Simon, Jack Self, Jack Sunnucks, Jacqueline Mathias, Jacqui Mathias, Jade Taylor, Jaime De Riso, Jake Chapman, James Bowthorpe, James Fallon, Jamie McPherson, Jasmine Humphrey, Jason Simms, Jay Sternstein, Jefferson Hack, Jeii Hong, Jenna Blaha, Jenny Lee, Jeremy O Harris, Jess Topping, Jessica Daly, Jessica Douglas, Jimmy Moffat, Joe Kennedy, John Gosling, John Matheson, Jon Sharples, Jonathan Akeroyd, Jonny Tanna, Joseph Rigby, Joseph Tang, Judd Crane, Julie Neitzel, Juliet Walsh, Juliette Larthe, Julius Walters, Kai Hsiung, Karen Harvey, Karina Givargisoff, Karina Ochoa, Kate Bryan, Kelly Connor, Khaite, Kijana Mihajlovski, Kim Jones, Kim Manocherian, Kit Bacon, Kostas Kaplanis, Lara Cooper, Lauren Levison, Leandro Farina, Lee Murphy, Leslie Nixon, Leyla Tahir, Liam Freeman, Lilianne Cookson, Lily Thompson, Lily Waterton, Lindsey Reilly, Lock Studios, Loewe, Lola Bute & Stitching West Coast Foundation, Lorraine Larmer, Lucrecia Taormina, Luke Scott, LVMH, Lydia Dickens, Maggi Hambling CBE, Malcolm Young, Marc Jacobs, Margaret Sweeney, Maria Balshaw CBE, Marianne Boesky, Marina Abramovic, Mark O’Flaherty, Markus Anderson, Markus Lupfer, Martin Cohen, Masha Mimran, Match Tonics, Material World Foundation, Matt Nicholson, Matthew Foley, Maximiliano Modesti, Melanie Grant, Mercy Amankwe, Michael Bracewell, Michael Nash, Mika Kiyono, Mimi Hoppen, Misha Noonoo, Moin Roberts-Islam, Nadège Vanheé, Nancy Chilton, Natalie Kingham, Natalie Rawling, Nayla Touma, Nick Knight OBE, Nick Mulholland, Nicole Plener, Nicole Teknus, Nina Tiari, Olya Kuryshchuk, Ommy Akhe, Palita Sinphai, Paul Ettinger, Paul Regan, Pauline Cochet Dallet, Peter Reed Linen, Peter Saville, Plum Ayloff, Plum Hoppen, Plum Hoppen, Purple PR, Quadrature, Raluca Anghel, Rebecca Seidenstein, Rebecca Ward, Rickie De Sole, Rogers & Goffigon, Rupert Friend, Russell Tovey, Ruth Hogben, Sadie Coles, Salwa McGill, Sam Taylor-Johnson OBE, Sam Wilson, Samantha Conti, Sandy Powell OBE, Sara Shikooh, Sara Terzi, Sarah Bowen, Sarah Burton OBE, Sarah Douglas, Sarah Randall, Sarah Thornley, Sasha Pinto, Schiaparelli, Scott Warren, Sean Arnold, Sean Clayton, Serena Rees, Shane Akeroyd, Sheila Muiry, Sheryl Needham, Shin Aduwa, Shona Heath, Silvia Furmanovich, Simon Hoare, Simon Kenny, Simon Ungless, Sipsmith, Sir Antony Gormley, Sir Ridley Scott, Sofia Xenia Economou, Soho House Group, Sølve Sundsbø & Marianne Alnaes, Sophia Neophitou, Sophie Lloyd, Souvenir Scenic Studios, Stephanie de Lavalette, Stephanie Finnan, Stephen Jones OBE, Stephen Walters, Stevie Cannell, Suneil Setiya, Susanna Elizabeth Brown,Tai Shani, Tamsin Blanchard, Tara Carroll, Tara Maurice, Teresa Suddeth, The Art Newspaper, The Golden Bottle Trust, The Goldsmiths’ Centre, The Roof Gardens, The Rug Company, The Standard, Thea Monteiro Nunes Pesce, Thom Browne, Tim Blanks, Tim Burton, Tim Marlow OBE, Tim Watson, Todd Lynn, Tom Skipp, Valery Demure, Vanessa Xuereb, Victoria Mitchell, Victoria's Secret, Vikki Dunn, Vivi Kallinikou, Vivienne Lewis, Wallace Chan, Wallpaper*, Warren Weertman, WeTransfer, Will Jarvis, William Russell, Yinka Ilori MBE, Yinka Shonibare CBE, Zero + Maria Cornjeo, Zia Zareem-Slade, Zong-Yao Liu.
Aaron Esh presents couture-level tailoring rooted in realism, subverting traditional masculine archetypes.
Akiko is a jewellery artist and illustrator who crafts conceptual pieces that explore the profound connections between the physicality of the body and the workings of the mind.
Alice is a versatile textile designer who creates interactive and sensory wellbeing artwork. She skilfully repurposes discarded fabrics to address the pressing issue of material waste and its impact on the natural environment, striving to restore balance in our consumption habits.
Working with specialist papers, Alice's practice explores temporality, our intimate bonds with the environment, as well as the traces we leave behind, through intricate paper constructions that prompt us to reconsider our relationship with materiality, nature, growth and decay.
Almudena applies her expert knowledge of 19th-century photographic processes to plants, creating new ways of experiencing photography.
Andrea is a jeweller who expertly crafts pieces that seamlessly adapt to the wearer. Utilising cutting-edge thermochromic materials and novel biological polymers, her creations undergo captivating transformations in response to changes in temperature and surrounding environment.
Andrew is a menswear designer who boldly reimagines commonly found materials and unlocks their transformative potential within the realm of clothing. His fascination lies in the dynamic shift of connotations that occurs when these materials seamlessly integrate into garments, leading him on a captivating journey of exploration and creation.
A visual artist, and curator, Anna fearlessly peels back the layers of an idealised Western culture in her practice. With a contemporary Pop Art flair, she dissects the territory of food, consumerism, and addiction, exposing the clash between adoration and condemnation experienced by post-Soviet Eastern Europeans.
Anna’s practice intertwines personal narratives with broader cultural observations. She employs presentation techniques to explore the transient nature of aesthetic preferences. Rather than dismissing surface appearances as superficial, she perceives them as sites for constructing meaning.
Anna is an illustrator and graphic artist working across editorial illustration, branding and site specific installations in the public realm. Featuring colourful, bold geometric shapes, Anna’s work can be seen around Haringey Council and in Nine Elms.
Anna is a fine artist who specialises in creating sculptures using the tufting technique commonly employed in carpet-making. Her sculptural pieces can be displayed as free-standing objects, supported by wooden frames, or dynamically worn and activated during performances.
Anouska is an artist and researcher who intricately combines ceramics and textiles made from human hair to sculpt a series of absurd, amorphous and ornate sculptures. Symbolising maternal themes, Samms carefully selects materials and processes with shared symbolic associations, representing the womb and weaving as a universal mythic trope.
Antonia is interested in depicting the complexity of human experience. By combining life, memory and imagination, she depicts chronicles of her life, friends and family. Influenced by Latin American literature and music, her practice is rooted in a personal sense of identity. Her work often depicts fleeting moments of intimacy, or the lack of it, and even
Arthur is a multi-disciplinary artist who proficiently merges painting, performance, and installation. Through a perpetual flow of images, his performative abstraction disrupts the authenticity of the mark and challenges the deceitfulness of perception.
Auroboros is the first metaverse native luxury fashion house creating style and status for all realms. Presenting physical couture and digital ready to wear, reflective of the scientific and technological advances of the 21st century, their work stands for innovation, sustainability and immersive design.
Aurora is a textile artist and embroiderer; she delves into the realm of mythology as she weaves intricate narratives. Drawing from a collective archive of profound tales that lay bare the human experience, her work explores the profound encounters between humans, animals and deities, serving as a rich tapestry of storytelling.
AV VATTEV was founded by fashion designer Antonio Vattev. Using more than 70% deadstock fabrics, AV VATTEV produces collections that speak to the desire for community and create a universe exploring the sensory aspect of garments: sounds, vision and touch.
A multi-disciplinary artist, Banita works across sculpture and painting. Through her work, she initiates conversations about our relationship with technology and its impact upon our perception and experience of the world.
Ben’s painting and image making embraces a range of processes, thematically touching on sexuality, intimacy, apathy and the elusive ‘uncanny’.
Benedikte's medium of choice is predominantly painting, and her artworks exemplify a profound captivation with colour, manifested through instinctive exploration. Her brushstrokes glide, embrace and enliven the composition, engendering unexpected harmonies between hues.
Benjamin Hawkins is a British jeweller trained in goldsmithing and fine diamond ware; his work is Influenced by historic artisanry. He engages creatively with every client, transforming their vision into bespoke pieces.
Berke is a versatile designer and illustrator who expertly employs print and textiles as mediums to delve into bold themes of desire and censorship.
Addressing the tension between tradition and modernity, between the masculine and the feminine, the award-winning designer and creative director takes inspiration from her British and Jamaican background; she approaches design with a multi-disciplinary attitude that brings cross-cultural references into a modern and reinvigorated evolution of menswear.
Engaging across a spectrum of disciplines, Blythe’s work draws attention to the unnoticed organic populations that support us. Her practice aims to platform these threatened and fragile eco-systems.
Drawing inspiration from his family's deep roots in fisheries and manual labour, his islander and Chinese diaspora identity, and his vast travelling experiences, Bowen’s practice delves into the topics concerning the fishing industry/labour market, power structure regarding gender and class, and leisure tourism.
An Irish sculptor and ceramicist, Camilla expertly dismantles archaic identities by employing genteel crafts. With a deft touch, she reconstructs new figures from the remnants of the past, imbuing them with renewed significance and meaning.
Carson's approach to fashion is a fusion of the strange and the fruity, inviting us into a world where tradition meets rebellion. Embracing traditional techniques, they play with synthetic colours and decade-specific silhouettes, crafting garments that are as polarising as they are captivating.
Castro Smith is a hand engraver and jeweller. Castro started training as a painter and printmaker, and his illustrative and painterly style comes through in the design of his rings. Having always been obsessed with creatures and their creations, his artwork is inspired by history, myths, and biology.
Cathy is a womenswear designer who embarks on a profound exploration of race relations in the Western world while championing the empowerment of marginalised women from diverse backgrounds.
Cecily is a knitwear designer who crafted her graduate collection with the valuable assistance of women in Kampala. Prior to this collaboration, she had imparted sewing and embroidery skills to these women, enabling them to secure employment opportunities.
Chaney is an artist whose practice encompasses a limitless exploration of diverse mediums. Her work transcends conventional boundaries, provoking contemplation and discourse on fashionrelated issues with a sociological, philosophical and political dimension.
Charlotte is a British young designer who handcrafts works that are ergonomically designed to encourage mental wellbeing. Charlotte works autobiographically, informing her meaningful concepts by drawing upon experiences and emotions.
Chloe is a painter whose work engages with the politics and poetics of space, how it is both freeing, restrictive and connected to accessibility. She is curious about who the world is built, designed and decorated for and how this creates an invisibility for certain people in particular spaces.
Working primarily with computer-generated animation and eye tracking, Christina’s practice examines interconnections of technology and consciousness. Her recent work seeks to challenge contemporary ways of seeing..
An artist and jeweller, Christopher draws inspiration from his upbringing in the English countryside. This profound connection to the natural world permeates his work, shaping his artistic vision and the portrayal of nature within his creations.
Ciara is a fashion designer and writer whose main research focus is crafting with rural communities to preserve heritage.
An art director and women’s accessories designer, Clara displays her visionary approach by ingeniously transforming ordinary everyday objects, such as kitchenware, into extraordinary fashion statements, resulting in a captivating fusion of art and functionality.
Clara is a fashion designer focused on working with wool. Aiming to highlight the possibilities that wool offers and preserving artisanal production methods, she works with hand-made felts, nuno felts, natural dyes and biomaterials as her core techniques.
A designer with a product design background, Claudia curates collections composed of seemingly disparate elements. Her creations artfully combine quotes, found imagery, events, films or personal experiences, resulting in captivating and thought-provoking designs that challenge conventional expectations.
Coline specialises in crafting personal talismans – forest spirits that serve as protectors and sources of empowerment. Through her unique creations, she challenges traditional notions of femininity and gender, inviting contemplation and exploration of alternative perspectives.
Conor's jewellery exhibits prevailing themes of otherness, fetishism, and the macabre. The human form serves as a noteworthy influence in his artistic practice, with many perceiving his works as an extension of the body itself.
Craig Green is an accomplished fashion designer whose unique aesthetic combines sculptural elements with contemporary menswear. His creations have been showcased on an international stage, including prestigious venues such as the Met in New York. Notably, his designs have also been featured in the film Alien: Covenant, directed by Sir Ridley Scott, earning him a welldeserved place at the forefront of the fashion industry.
Daisy is an artist with an education in fashion design and a practice driven by craft. Her multidisciplinary work investigates the human form as the central theme. The work sits in an awkward space between sculpture, performance, and art.
Daniel is a multi-disciplinary artist whose painting practice is inspired by his freehand, large-scale botanical tattooing. His work is deeply rooted in botanical study and experimentation.
DANSHAN explores the undervalued nuances of modern male life, examining how male body language develops, and looks at ways to make a masculine silhouette become effeminate, without breaking the austere boundaries that define menswear.
Darcey is a multidisciplinary artist. Her works are intense yet freeing, playful yet serious, unrefined yet refined, spontaneous yet planned, unique yet universal. Social, cultural and individual factors have all informed Darcey’s practice; however, she does not wish to impose meaning onto her work, or to define what it stands for. Instead, she wants the viewer to be free to interpret her works in whatever way they choose.
David is an established commercial photographer who explores diverse subjects through the lenses of still life, landscape, fashion, and documentary photography. His thought-provoking work challenges capitalist social structures, examines consumer necessity and advocates for sustainability.
Davide, a self-taught artist, possesses a mastery of dyeing techniques such as Japanese shibori and Indian mud resist. In his collections, he delves into the intricate connection between women and public spaces, using his expertise in these methods to create visually captivating and conceptually rich artworks.
Dean is a visual artist working between soft sculpture, film and photography. His soft sculpture examines the culture and his personal struggle with care. Using soft toys as a symbolic medium, he explores the spectrum of care, from genuine to neglectful.
Donal is a self-taught artist whose creative journey is influenced by graphic design. He produces tangible artworks by translating meticulously crafted digital drafts onto physical mediums.
Ed is an artist whose work can manifest through narrative film, intervention, sculpture or printed matter, as long as its core values are to raise important questions through an entertaining lens.
Eleanor is a sculptor who mainly creates installations that collapse landscapes and bodies together via mould-making, moving image, spoken-word and ritual, in an attempt to make sense of emotions and societal behaviours.
Adam is a performance artist whose practice combines sculpture, wearable art and installation for live performance. They create wearable latex pieces and perform them as living sculpture, sealing themselves inside airtight latex and using their breathing, pumps the air out vacuum packing themselves into a sculptural form.
Elena-Andreea Teleagā is a lens-based media artist whose practice is rooted in photography. Using found material or own imagery, her work creates spaces for reflection, introspection and self-analysis.
Ellie is a multimedia artist whose practice is characterised by a dynamic and surreal grasp on the fixed realities of everyday life.
Emil's work explores interactions between humans and machines, investigating the extent of the impact of Artificial Intelligence on our daily lives.
Emily is an artist and jeweller who celebrates the beauty of decay by elevating natural and found objects through laborious techniques to transform them into fine jewellery.
Emma transforms salvaged and meticulously cleaned animal bones and shells into exquisite and intricate artworks that challenge the traditional and morbid associations commonly associated with the material.
Emmely is a sculptor, ceramist, and football coach who creates large paper-mâché works from up-cycled materials and cast aside, found objects. From tennis ball tubes to disused packaging, functioning lamps and chairs emerge.
Erik, a fashion designer, is captivated by the influence of identity and gender in clothing and its potential to either foster or hinder social progress.
Ernie is sculptor and creator who explores themes of sexuality and gender, intertwining elements of reality and fantasy in his practice.
Esna is an award-winning artist who uses traditional Turkish techniques to create handwoven wearable sculptures that depict the burden of displacement.
Evie is a painter who envisions captivating territories, drawing inspiration from her rural upbringing in northern England. Her unconventional landscapes reflect a blend of beauty and wit, tainted with elements of industrialisation.
Fiorella is interested in how we perceive our context and the socio-political issues that affect nature and territory through photography. She uses analogue photographs, video and installations to produce images that bring to the fore the uncanny through a poetic language. Her work relies on the South American terrain and how (post) colonialism marks the landscape and the identification with it.
Flora works across painting, sculpture, performance, video and installation. A compulsion towards the carnivalesque, a vibrant trashy aesthetic and the desire to playfully rub the fantastical against the everyday drives her work.
Francesca dives into themes of symmetry through her practice, including print, knit, and embroidery. Her work revolves around narratives that explore the contrasting characteristics of two sisters.
Exploring themes with humour and satire is critical to Frederika’s work, as well as echoing tropes of internet culture. Working predominantly with video and digital-based media, her practice compiles of ultimately over-stimulating synthesisations, which suggest the atmosphere of an absurd and weird realm that borders on the irrational and surreal.
Freya's mixed-media artworks are both playful and analytical in nature. She starts with stock images and then manipulates them by enlarging, pinning, cutting, and distorting them.
Fuchsia is a mixed-media artist working primarily with watercolour, inks, and oils. She explores notions of good and evil through carefully selected colour palettes and spiritual iconography.
Georgia is a video and performance artist who crafts vibrant and lively works that draw inspiration from her friends, family, and her hometown of Luton, while exploring matters of social class and culture.
Gal Leshem is an artist and facilitator. Her work is developed through a site-specific and research-based approach, often engaging with heritage sites, objects and plants embedded in myth, memory, and folklore.
George works across painting, sculpture, drawing and performance looking at community culture, identity politics and power structures within Britain. With humour and a tongue-incheek viewpoint, George creates work that pokes fun at daily ‘British’ practices.
Grace’s paintings are luminously bright and playful. Each mark is unrehearsed and dynamic, softly yet decisively applied in oil and watercolour mediums to slick surfaces on canvas, panel, and paper. The works reflect on themes of gender and sexuality, play and improvisation, fantasy and the unconscious.
Gregory Ojakpe is a Nigerian-born British knitwear designer. His creative vision has three main elements at its core: artisanry, fantasy/surrealism, and identity.
Grzegorz works primarily with multi-screen video installations, moving images and photography. His practice, strongly influenced by performance, is positioned at the nexus of choreography, psychology, and film.
Hamed is an interdisciplinary artist who explores themes revolving around visual archiving, surrealism and portraiture, utilising painting, photography, sculpture and performance as research tools.
Hannah’s creations are rooted in personal memories, family influences, individual experiences and the spontaneous objects and images she encounters in her daily life.
Hannah is a socially engaged documentary photographer who works with individuals and communities that have been misrepresented in the mainstream media. Through long-term engagement and collaborative practice, centred around portraiture, she aims to disrupt stereotypes and inform new ways of thinking.
Hannah is an artist and accomplished writer, known for her poignant poetry collections, chapbooks, and novels that delve into the themes of misuse and its consequences.
Harriet is a self-taught artist who brings a fresh and imaginative perspective to taxidermy, breaking away from its traditional presentation. With a surreal and contemporary pop twist, she infuses the ancient art form with a vibrant and playful essence.
Hayden addresses themes of the conscious and unconscious mind; thinking of our brain as a machine that manipulates and interprets memories, language and dreams into sensical thoughts. Their work explores the ways we attempt to share our dreamed experiences and the difficulties we face in conveying their ephemeral sensations and sentiments.
Henry is an inventor and artist who designs processes and machines to create garments around the human body, as a means to innovate fashion and encourage less waste.
Inga's garments embrace poetic and philosophical elements, often inspired by individual experiences and beliefs. Her creative process encompasses the development of unique textiles, intricate draping techniques, and other innovative approaches.
Isabel’s core practice materialises personal conditioners into artwork ideas. She explores narratives around migration, heritage, gender, and its consequences on identity and belonging, focusing on the connections between the individual and the community.
Isabel crafts peculiar and subversive tales through the mediums of stop motion, puppetry, and live action. Her narratives typically revolve around powerful yet tragically inclined female characters who inhabit fantastical and surreal cosmos.
Isabelle’s designs have strong connotations coming from her fine art and textile design background. Her work is deeply influenced by the past, weaving together elements of personal recollections and sentimental experiences.
With a focus on his Sardinian heritage and sustainable design, Ivan's garments showcase the diversity and complexity of women's experiences in Sardinia and beyond. His silhouettes are created with a large variety of up-cycled materials including 70s mosquito curtains, garden fence netting, seaweed and more.
Izaak works across dance, sculpture, performance, filmmaking, and drawing. His practice is rooted in his experience as a dancer and the energetic relationships between dancers, identity, movement, and the human body.
Izzy McKinlay is a designer whose creative practice is a blend of the practical and the surreal. Using her childhood growing up in Australia, she creates dynamic and introspective clothing pieces that work with and for the body.
James is a fashion designer who embarks on a mission to explore a fresh and unconventional perspective on modern masculinity. Through his work, he seeks to challenge societal norms and redefine the expectations placed upon men in today's world.
James Tailor's artistic practice revolves around the versatility and potential of assemblage, freeing him from the constraints of a specific medium or style. Working primarily with found objects, often in their final stages of life, he cautiously recontextualizes their narratives.
Jamie’s artistic practice encompasses a diverse range of mediums, with a central focus on the intersection of image and song. Through his work, he explores the intricate connections between various socio-political concerns, infusing elements of humour, millennial culture, masculinity, folk dissent, and doubt.
Jana is a fashion artefact designer specialising in the creation of distinctive objects related to the body. Her repertoire spans from fashion adornments and abstract accessories to perfume bottles and jewellery.
Jiaxi Li is a textile artist who focuses on innovative knit practice with a multicultural background. Jiaxi has built a multi-disciplinary and interactive art practice in material exploration, art digitalisation, artisanry and cross-subject collaboration. As a textile artist, she values the emotion, history, and humanity in each creation.
Jimmy is a versatile craftsman, designer, and artist who collects antique footwear and melds design with sculptural art in his creations.
Jin is an oil painter who captures metaphors she discovers while eating, reading, listening, or dancing. Through her art, she aims to construct an inclusive language that transcends cultural boundaries, enabling communication and understanding among diverse audiences.
With a blend of traditional contemporary craftsmanship at the core of her practice, Joanne works with predominantly with wood craving and embroidery. She questions how these ancient processes can be invited and integrated into our modern day.
Jo creates thoughtfully experimental hats that blend traditional techniques with a playful disregard for materials, resulting in imaginative re-inventions of familiar headwear.
Jocelyn is an artist who creates captivating sculptural works that blend human body parts with synthetic materials, resulting in pieces that induce a sense of vitality and intrigue.
Skelton has a sustainable design ethos, using recycled fabrics often found in markets, such as antique bed sheets and old grain sacks. He customises these materials through hand-dying, overwashing, painting, and patching to create garments inspired by his research into traditional craft, heritage, and politics.
John is a painter whose work creates a cultural commentary around how we consume objects and content. Collage like, and taking inspiration from pop and everyday culture, John looks at how what we currently consume is a constant rehashing of the past.
Jonah is an oil painter who explores the interplay between the physicality of paint and the pervasive presence of pornography in mainstream culture. Through his art, he dives into the dialogues arising from this juxtaposition, examining the cultural implications and influences of pornography.
Josephine's interdisciplinary practice encompasses sculpture, film, performance, text, and photography. Her working methodology is research-led, like that of an investigative journalist.
Joshua is a multidisciplinary artist and designer who uses craft to create installations that investigate seduction and repulsion; pleasure and pain; life and death.
Judas Companion aims to unite art and fashion through grotesque masks made from soft yarn and oversized garments made of recycled leather, which she then photographs on herself.
Julia’s practice incorporates photography and sculpture with a concern for mobilising the photograph as an object or material.
Karimah has an expressive, bold aesthetic and is heralded for ‘taking stories of community gatekeepers full circle, from the canvas to the streets’. She creates live paintings at performance events across London and New York to highlight the importance of communities in the city.
Karina embodies rebellious luxury wear, combining rare and unique textiles with experimental, sculptural forms. Each item feels like a novelty piece of art, yet remains comfortably wearable.
Kasia is an experimental photographer who examines the alchemy of photography, particularly focusing on the wet plate collodion process. With a primary focus on fashion and portraiture, Kasia explores themes related to the intricate dynamics of belonging, the passage
A multi-disciplinary artist and designer covering jewellery, sculpture and fashion, Katy Mason’s practice is linked to the value of found materials through their life and history and the appropriation of materials conventionally deemed as waste.
Kirico Ueda is a multi-disciplinary artist known for her approach of deconstructing and reassembling motifs and narratives sourced from folktales, myths, and theatres. Her artistic practice traverses multiple mediums, including photography, puppetry, sculpture, and printmaking. of time, nostalgia, and the significance of artefacts.
Kitty’s core practice dissects the interplay of urban spaces in her site-specific work, rooted in screen-printing.
Koby’s work is an introspective exploration of his life and looks to the inclusive human experience of dealing with emotions, memories, thoughts and feelings. His paintings capture the duality of courage and sadness through emotive figures, subjects and abstract forms.
Korallia uses autobiographical narrative and ecological fact to create new myth and explores the embodiment of a place between reality and fiction. Her improvisations are collated into an archive; content is used to progress research and recycled as memory in eventual works. Her work explores the vital politics of care in an interdependent world and emphasises nonhuman agencies.
Kristina’s work is characterised by sensual forms and an otherworldly aesthetic and underpinned with research into psychology and social theories. Her narrative-based and critically researched approach engineers new experiences that call for emotional introspection and physical exploration.
Kuniko works with paper, leather and textiles to create sculptural artworks and installations. Incorporating traditional Japanese techniques and digital technology, she explores the possibility of the materials themselves and their unique properties, embracing natural formed abstraction.
Laila deconstructs the aesthetic framework of the Persian miniature tradition, hybridising it with that of its European counterparts to form her own language and paying particular attention to the examples where these traditions met and mixed.
Leo Carlton combines VR sculpts, 3D scanning and printing with a test-lab of biomaterials. Using 3D scans of a head, face or body lends to a bespoke process where using technology and natural plant-based materials produce a wearable and ecologically friendly outcome.
Lewis’s design practice is deeply influenced by his upbringing in Glasgow where conformity is a survival strategy and expressing individuality can invite ridicule. Lewis’ work subverts this norm by blending into the city's architecture rather than its social fabric, capturing the essence of navigating through a cityscape covered by dark clouds, rough weather and Glasgow's harsh, fast-paced atmosphere.
Leyman is a narrative and figurative painter who combines playful visual vocabulary with bright colours and cartoon-like style. His works are filled with religious and mythology references to convey ideas around the emotional weights we carry.
Liam is a fashion designer who creates collections that redefine conventional fashion, highlighting remodelled silhouettes, vibrant colours, unexpected textures, and exaggerated forms.
Louis Alderson-Bythell, known as LAB, is an artist who explores the intricate connections between human and non-human ecologies, genetics, biological technology, and deep time environmental observation. His work touches on bio-politics and the dynamic balance between stability and plasticity in ecological systems.
Louis Alderson-Bythell, known as LAB, is an artist who explores the intricate connections between human and non-human ecologies, genetics, biological technology, and deep time environmental observation. His work touches on bio-politics and the dynamic balance between stability and plasticity in ecological systems.
Louis is an artist who crafts comic and satirical films mainly through hand puppets and stop-motion animations.
Louise’s photographic and sculptural works incorporate ecological and chemical interactions. Her work explores materiality, environmental ethics and human perception.
Lucy Jagger practice engages with commentary of the present-day socio-cultural landscape. Her paintings continue the tradition of narrative painting while addressing contemporary issues and concerns.
Lulu is a Chinese multidisciplinary artist whose practice combines craft, new technologies, performance, installation and illustration. Her work translates the body’s dynamics and perceptions into visual creations.
Mab is a designer and performance artist with a focus on portraiture-illustration and repurposing the unwanted through storytelling.
Mae’s work is influenced by her obsession with flea markets and car boot sales, where she sources most of her fabrics and materials. Mae studies the objects and clothing that she has collected throughout the years, seeking to capture and preserve the exquisite qualities and artisanry of bygone eras.
Mairi is a Trinidadian artist who explores the interplay between human culture and physicality through her creations, specifically focusing on the role of jewellery as a mediator.
Maissane’s work comes from a visceral need to tell stories and make shelters for individuals who hope for something more than what everyday life provides us. Zinai is interested in creating new folklores and narrative textures, her practice extends to world design, crossing frontiers between fashion, medicine, spirituality and biosciences.
Malgorzata is an artist practicing across installation, performance and public art, whose work focuses on the political and psychological aspects of fashion. Balancing on the edge of the ‘uncanny’ and the absurd, she unpicks the connection between art and social issues.
Mandy is a performance and video artist who boldly challenges the confines of gender perception through their alter-ego, Gerrit. With a focus on pushing boundaries, their works seek to expand our understanding of gender and its fluidity.
Marta Klara is an artist, a filmmaker and a funeral director. She works in a multidisciplinary capacity and explores how art and technology enable us to go beyond physical spaces, embracing the experience of merging physical objects with digital realms.
Martina is a jewellery artist creating fantastical and playful pieces inspired by the world of magic and mushrooms. Childhood memories of foraging in her hometown in Slovakia are reinterpreted into vibrant and conceptual jewellery pieces.
Designer Martina Spetlova’s highly identifiable hand woven leathers in unexpected juxtapositions have become a trademark of her brand and are applied on jackets, accessories, and larger-scale interior designs.
Matija’s practice challenges conventional notions of sculpture and materiality. His practice sits at the intersection of science and art, exploring the transformative potential of translation.
As an individual who is both autistic and queer, Matilda’s work delves deeply into the profound themes of disability, queerness, and English folk. These intrinsic aspects of her identity serve as the driving force behind her creative expression, enabling her to explore her own unique journey through the medium of clothing.
Matilde is fascinated by the power of jewellery as a healing and wellness source. A modern twist on the ancient tradition of jewellery as talisman, her pieces encourage openness and conversation around mental health, depression and anxiety.
Multi-award-winning Matthew is a designer and artist renowned for his responsible approach to upcycling and his significant contributions towards sustainability in the British fashion industry.
Megan is an artist, jeweller and silversmith creating innovative designs using traditional jewellery and silversmithing techniques. Inspired by her own ancestry of jewellers, she has taken her family history and translated it into her preferred medium of precious metals, with which she has set up her own business, Megan Brown Jewellery.
Michaela Stark is an artist, costume designer and couturier. Her main practice creates custom-made lingerie pieces that are designed to sculpt the body and enhance the societyperceived ‘imperfections,’ offering a new and more forgiving perspective on the female form.
Michaela Yearwood-Dan works predominantly in vibrant paint and collage to depict observations of society and self, exploring themes of class, culture/race, gender, nature, and love.
Michelle is a photographer whose works span from artistic portraiture to commercial fashion editorials. She explores conversations surrounding identity and stereotypes, and how these might inform our perception of ourselves.
Mimi hand-makes lenticulars that explore notions of transcendence and freedom. The works are simultaneously static and in flux, activated only by the viewer’s movement around them.
Mircea Teleagă is best known for his human-less scopes painted in oil and acrylic on canvas. Balancing between landscapes and urban environments, the artist approaches the application of paint as if a shapeshifter; from virtuously to vigorously, opaque to transparent, and lucid to destructive.
Yuki Vonk is the self-taught jeweller behind the brand Miya Kumo. Referencing images, myths and experiences that captivated her at a young age, her work captures the whimsy of common folklore together with darker and more complex symbols.
Molly Goddard is a fashion designer known for her distinctive tulle and hand-smocked taffeta dresses. Her eponymous label, established in 2014, has gained acclaim at London Fashion Week and is stocked by top retailers worldwide. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her outstanding work in the fashion industry.
Natalya Falconer explores their southern Italian past through a wide range of materials, currently spanning sculpture, installation, and text. She describes her work as a 'material fallout' from the research she does, as well being a 'material fallout' from the south's geophysical, political and economic 'craters of violence'.
Natasha is a sculptor whose artistic practice is informed by African mythology.
Neil’s work uses fashion as an anthropological lens to study the environments surrounding him. Neil grew up in Australia, China and Norway, giving him a sensibility for the nuances of culture. Neil takes things that are familiar and communicates them into a new context.
Nicole is a visual artist and fashion designer exploring the role of our physical and online identities with mixed media approaches ranging from UV sublimation, lenticular hand-pleating, embroidery and VR techniques.
Noah is a composer, performer and sound artist whose work explores the perceptual and spatial subtleties of sound. His practice spans sound installations, improvisation and score-based composition.
Oliver explores the subversive potential of printing-making, employing the grotesque, historical symbolism and modern social mores to form a critique of the contemporary political environment.
Paloma is a visual artist exploring the physical and psychological relationships that arise from complications in inherited DNA, through self-portrait photographs with knitted or hand-crafted sculptures.
Working with plant based, recycled, organic and repurposed materials, natural dyes and handmade construction, Carzana’s garments explore the tensions between strength and fragility.
Camille Liu is a French Chinese womenswear designer, founder of the brand PARISER. She is heavily inspired by jewellery design, incorporating materials such as chains, stones, rhinestones, pearls into her knitwear.
Paula’s desire is to create an instinctive passion that has led her practices in fashion design and illustrations. Her primary sources of inspiration are historical stories, superstitions, Slavic mythology, and vintage Croatian film.
Peter initially pursued menswear design studies and later transitioned to becoming a fulltime technician.
Polly Jane Wilson is a cross-disciplinary visual artist. Her works are often realised as ephemeral installations which combine unstable materials, painting techniques, sculptural forms and disorientating plays of light and shadow.
Puck is a Dutch-born artist who challenges social complexities of gender, race, and inequality through powerful installations blending video, sculpture, and architectural intervention.
Rachel works at the intersection of photography, film, costume and set design. She builds highly curated worlds which occupy the space between fashion image and fine art.
Rebecca is a textile artist with a particular interest in surface; she is drawn to rust, moss, lichen, stone and wood, incorporating them in drawing, prints and sculptures.
Renata Brenha is a womenswear designer who pushes sustainable methods and craftsmanship to develop her label that faces the collective challenges of our times. Her signature pieces are recognised by her expert smocking, pleating and repurposing of dead-stock sportswear.
Renee delves into themes of the body, nature, and sexuality, fearlessly exploring the beauty, ugliness, and sensuality of all that is vibrant and tactile.
Robert is a multidisciplinary artist whose drawings and paintings sit between expressionism and abstract expressionism. He relies on intuitive colour choice and graphic mark making to capture the appearance of a subject as a visualisation process.
A womenswear designer who originally studied medicine, ROBERTS | WOOD now makes collections that focus on material innovation and ways of constructing garments without stitching.
Rosa is a multi-disciplinary artist working across ceramics, performance, video and performance, fanfiction, and sound, exploring places, themes and celebrities in British popular culture, decolonisation and their consequences on self-esteem.
Rosie works primarily in performance, video, and sculpture. She uses absurdity in an attempt to unravel learnt behaviours, particularly from her intertwined identities as a woman and consumer.
Rosie works with sculpture, installation, and video to explore the clumsy, the almost, the tedious, the obscure. She is interested in the steps we take to better ourselves, our environments and how in that process we are inundated with objects and methods that often surpass our technical knowledge.
Ruby is an experimental jewellery artist who uses a wide range of materials and techniques to achieve unique outcomes. Her practice is primarily influenced by the body and carries surreal themes through the application of computer-aided design and handcrafting.
Ruby is an artist who has no fixed medium, with works that span written and verbal speech, video, performance and installation.
Saelia works in sculpture, animation, large-scale hand drawings and glass blowing to create installations that are personal alien landscapes: touching on inequality, sustainability and the inherent humour that underpins our fundamental human existence.
Sam is a womenswear designer whose collections are based on his experience of being sectioned under the Mental Health Act, using his themes and design process as a chance to heal.
Sam’s photography is characterised by a unique colour palette, romanticism and nostalgia, which he uses to construct a fantastical social commentary informed by shifting cultural tenets for highprofile commercial projects and personal work.
Samuel is an artist who works with materials like bitumen, concrete and grease to ask fundamental questions around traditional ways of art making.
Sarah is an esteemed designer who is curious about the morbid fate of the Anthropocene, consequently wishing to question what we see as beautiful or grotesque.
Sayan is a textile artist who reimagines votive objects and folk narratives as ambiguous forms through tapestry weaving, stitching and dyeing.
Semin is a mixed media installation artist. Her work starts from the belief that every space anyone has ever lived in, whether it is called home, shelter or it is without a name, is inscribed with memory and always left with indecipherable traces and marks.
Serena’s design work is creative and precise, with great attention to delicate details, combined with a strong interest towards innovative and unconventional materials.
Shaina is an oil painter grounded in the historical precedent of the Italian Baroque yet adapted to express a contemporary alternative to the abasement of the female nude. Her practice is informed by an obsession with flesh and bodies, a critical perspective on the viewer/subject relationship, and an exploration of the grotesque.
Shannon’s work embodies an Afrofemcentrist consciousness, sharing muted narratives and projecting black women’s lived experiences. She is invested in producing layered, figurative, compositions embedded with symbols and scientific metaphors that centralise black womanhood as a source of knowledge and understanding.
Shaw Chin is a designer whose practice focuses on his personal experience, especially on Asian masculinity and identity, in the hope that through his personal work, people can relate to his experience. He wishes his work to serve as a personal healing medium but also optimised by others in their journey to self-healing.
Shin is a menswear designer who makes personal work that has its roots firmly within their family dynamic, taking inspiration from the person who remains their main driving force – their mother.
Shinta is an acclaimed silversmith who produces ornaments and vessels inspired by plants, seeds and fruits using hammering and chasing techniques.
Shinta is an acclaimed silversmith who produces ornaments and vessels inspired by plants, seeds and fruits using hammering and chasing techniques.
Shirin is an artist and curator whose practice focuses on cultural changes in relation to gender identity, and includes roleplay with the use of cosmetics, masks, and prosthetics. Fathi uses her own body as a subject to stage ambiguous and often marginalised identities.
Shola creates future artefacts which combine the bold minimalism of the contemporary with rich textures and silhouettes from antiquity. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted using only the finest materials.
Shona explores ideas surrounding the entanglement of nature and technology to evoke a sense of wonder and infinite possibility. Investigating mutable, metamorphic states is also a recurrent theme used to illustrate the transition into an indeterminate future.
Sian explores the threshold between the virtual and the physical, through digital performance, sculpture, video and installation.
Solveig’s practice moves through sculpture, drawing, painting, video, sound, and photography. She is fascinated by the mutability of object and medium, and our indescribable and often impossible relationship with our environment. She questions cornerstones of ideas and objects, looking at how these transform over time.
As a sculptor, Sophie is interested in the things we consume and how they consume us. Her works are made of sugar, a material which reflects the additive, sickly and enjoyable qualities of entertainment and media.
Material exploration is central to Sophie Mei's work; particularly how materials interact to create a psychophysical response. She investigates the generative potential in the transformation of matter through a variety of material processes such as growing salt crystals and exploring amorphous and decomposing substances.
Standing Ground was established by Michael Stewart Dunne. Michael designs modern evening wear, custom garments and body ornaments, informed by the specificity of the body, where draping, sculpting and craft techniques respond to the individual form.
Stefan Cooke is a menswear design brand that subverts textile techniques and skill with silhouette and design to underpin its signature style.
Stephen employs drawing and painting to explore the profound journey of self-healing. Rooted in experiences of grief and loss, his art reflects a dualistic blend of melancholic introspection and unwavering optimism. Through abstracted internal conversations conveyed in paint, he shares life learnings and challenges, offering an emotive connection to others.
Stephen is an artist who works in inks, drawing and print to create images that reflect on his environments, the people around him, their relationships and shared experience, as well as nature, community and ritual.
Steven is a designer whose work aims to explore the emotional complexities of human relationships, while pushing the boundaries of traditional knitwear by using unconventional materials such as latex and plastic.
Taryn is a sculptor and an academic. Her work predominantly explores concepts of queerness, sexuality, and femininity while embracing dark humour, the macabre and camp culture.
A combination of deadstock fashion and installation, Tenant of Culture’s work focuses on themes of preservation, decay and cultural hierarchy to demand transparency in the fashion industry.
Thomas is interested in how natural surfaces can be activated when different narratives are introduced, and uses readily available materials to create situations in which the work is completed when viewed by the public.
Timisola's designs have allowed her to express herself by speaking on critical race issues, and the dynamisms of being an African migrant, exploring her culture and sharing a homogenous black experience.
TJ creates 4D sensory experiences through the mediums of fashion and performance. Combining knitwear and innovative textiles made from ‘dirty’ bio-waste materials, TJ builds experiences that hinge on how the concept is delivered to and, consequently, received by the audience.
Torishéju is a designer who thoughtfully weaves her Catholic upbringing into every fibre of her work, infusing it with profound religiosity and spirituality.
Janus primarily creates sculptural installations exploring the deep time and interconnected nature of living and non-living matter. Her sculptures are characterised by the use of raw elements, such as gelatine, charcoal, ash, limestone, and salvaged metals, as well as acid, salts and other destructive substances.
WED is a bridal and eveningwear brand that draws inspiration from the spirit of early couture to challenge the notion that a bridal gown is a one-day occasion piece.
Whiskey Chow is a performance artist, activist and Chinese drag king. Whiskey’s art practice engages with broadly defined political issues, covering a range of related topics: from female and queer masculinity, and problematising the nation-state across geographic boundaries, to stereotypical projections of Chinese/Asian identity.
Ya Luo’s practice encompasses drawing, painting and sculpture. She explores the possibilities of drawing, how drawings inhabit space as 3-D propositions, and considers the role of pictorial space in relation to real space.
Yoav Hadari is an Israeli-born designer working under the label HADARI, focusing on hand made, couture-inspired non-binary tailoring made from recycled and donated materials, catering to the woman's shape.
Yodea is a fashion designer who uses their work as a medium to explore and react to their interpersonal experiences. Inspired by their Jamaican lineage and childhood memories of growing up in inner city London, their cultural background acts as an irreplaceable bridge that links their artistic practice to their own individuality.
Yuuki is a visual artist whose artwork revolves around the themes of time, existence, and contradiction. She employs various methods such as 16mm film with multiple exposure, ceramic, painting, drawing and installation to create her pieces.
Yuli is a multi-media artist who uses fictional narratives to critically highlight the interdependence between systems of power and the natural world. Driven by artistic worldbuilding as well as governmental terraforming, her work is research based and tends to exist in installations of sculpture, film, writing, new media and sound.
Zongbo Jiang
Zongbo is a visual artist with a background in graphic and digital fashion design. His work centres around creating digital characters, which often take strange and comedic forms.
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