Alfie is a young artist with cerebral palsy who has attended Pyramid for Development Team sessions with a professional artist facilitator since 2020.
Alfie loves experimenting with different techniques and learning new skills. Since joining Pyramid, he has worked with photography, digital art, print, text, collage, and filmmaking.
Alfie travels from North Yorkshire to access Pyramid sessions because they offer him the bespoke support that he needs to flourish. Alfie is a wheelchair user so having an accessible studio space to make his work is absolutely essential. Alfie loves to make art which advocates for people with disabilities, raising awareness of issues such as access and accessibility.
“I love coming to Pyramid as it is a place where people listen to my ideas and help me develop. I have learnt lots of new things at Pyramid and it was a dream come true to work on projects with a professional film maker. Pyramid has given me so many opportunities to make art and advocate for myself.”- Alfie
Alfie is keen to inspire other people with learning disabilities to make artwork. From 2023 to 2024, Pyramid coordinated a collaborative art project where Alfie led art workshops for children and adults with disabilities across Leeds to create large-scale artworks that were displayed at cultural locations citywide. This project was well received by all participants, which was a huge boost to Alfie’s confidence and self-esteem.
Filmmaking is one of Alfie’s greatest passions and Pyramid has supported Alfie both to make films and to share them in professional settings. Alfie has now worked on two films with professional filmmaker Michael Godsall, both of which have been screened at Leeds’ Grade 2 listed cinema, Hyde Park Picture House.
Cultivating Care: Inclusive Art and the Turner Prize 2025
Back in November, Alice Clayden, Pyramid’s Creative Programme Coordinator, joined a panel of artists, curators and academics to discuss the Turner Prize 2025 and the role of care in the art industry. Curated by Yorkshire Contemporary in partnership with the University of Leeds, the event took place at the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery. The discussion, held both in person and online, brought together a distinguished panel to explore how care is expressed, embodied and challenged within contemporary artistic practice and curation.
Unpacking Care in Art
Chaired by Turner Prize 2025 co-curator Michael Richmond, the conversation aimed to unpack a complex set of questions: How do artists demonstrate care in their work? How do institutions uphold (or fail to uphold) care? And what does it mean to cultivate environments that genuinely support both individuals and communities?
Speaking from her experience working with artists who have learning disabilities and autism, Alice emphasised the difficulty of representation in traditional art spaces and what Nnena Kalu’s nomination, and now win, means for the community.
‘Myself and a lot of other people who work in inclusive arts with learning disabled artists spend a lot of our time feeling like we’re having to push and prove why the artwork the artists we support make is so important and amazing in its own right. Being able to experience that space with Nnena’s work was just so important for her community.’
Inclusive Art Spaces Build Confidence
Drawing on Pyramid’s long history of inclusive arts practice, Alice explained how supportive and flexible creative environments allow artists with learning disabilities and autism to thrive beyond their creative practice.
‘A lot of people with learning disabilities often have their lives scheduled for them and don’t get to make a lot of decisions about what they do and how they spend their time. Even as simple as coming to Pyramid or another inclusive art space, or any kind of space where people can choose what paint they want to use, what colour they want to use, expands how they see themselves and gives them so much more confidence to then make those decisions in their lives about how they want to be supported and how they want to look after themselves. Even something as small as that can really change someone’s way of being and thinking about themselves.’
She emphasised that even seemingly small acts of creative choice can have transformative effects on how individuals see themselves and navigate the world.
Long-Term Support as a Form of Care
Alice also noted the crucial role sustained relationships play in enabling artists with learning disabilities to build meaningful creative practices. She highlighted the long-term collaboration between Nnena Kalu and her studio assistant Charlotte at ActionSpace—a partnership spanning over two decades:
“The story of Nnena and Charlotte at ActionSpace shows it’s really important to get to know people and have time to get to know people and get to work together and explore things.”
She contrasted this with the realities many people with learning disabilities and autism face: short-term support, high staff turnover and systems that inadvertently discourage long-term relationships. This lack of investment often prevents artists from developing deep creative collaborations and exploring their full potential.
Pioneering Research on Inclusive Arts Practice
Alice also discussed the ongoing research between Pyramid and Dr Jade French from the University of Leeds. Their four-year project, Inclusive Art for Wicked Problems, part of the Irregular Art School funded by UKRI, explores how inclusive arts practice can mobilise the expertise of people with learning disabilities across challenges within the social care system. This project sees Pyramid working with partners across the UK and internationally, including ActionSpace, Project Artworks, Blue Room and Museum of Modern Art in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Four Pyramid members are working as researchers in this project, each developing and pursuing their own research questions on issues such as advocacy in social care, reimaging inclusive arts education, the impact of media around disability welfare policy and how art can influence a more inclusive, environmentally friendly development of AI. The project will provide meaningful change for people with learning disabilities in addition to shifting the paradigm approach to research, where people with learning disabilities are often treated as subjects of research and not leaders of that research.
As the creative sector celebrates Nnena Kalu’s Turner Prize win, Alice hopes this recognition will open doors for many more artists with learning disabilities and autism:
‘I hope that all the events and great work that Yorkshire Contemporary and ActionSpace have done will help make other institutions feel more confident to reach out to learning-disabled artists and show that there doesn’t have to be barriers between us. It can just be conversations, coming to meet people and offering space and time. I think it will definitely have a massive impact.’
Her reflections underline a hopeful vision: a sector where artists with learning disabilities and autism are not exceptions but integral contributors who are supported, valued and visible.
The Magic Show at Sunny Bank Mills – 04 July – 27 September
Pyramid has partnered with Sunny Bank Mills to create ‘The Magic Show’, an exhibition celebrating all things magical. This exhibition features new, original artwork from Pyramid artists alongside other learning-disabled artists from Henshaws College.
This will be an immersive takeover of the Gallery and artists from both groups will be responding to the theme of magic. Think magicians’ hats, wizards, mythical creatures, spells and illusions.
There will also be a library of ‘Magic’ zines available to view. These zines were created by the Ribblehead group, Pyramid development team artists and Studio Pyramid members.
Event Details
Where? Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, Pudsey LS28 5UJ Exhibition Dates: 04 July – 27 September 2026 Opening times: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm Booking: No booking needed, just drop in! Access: Please see Sunny Bank Mills’ Access guide for more details: https://www.sunnybankmills.co.uk/arts/access/
Exhibiting Artists
Alexander
Alexander is a young autistic artist and a prolific illustrator who joined Pyramid at the end of 2023. He now spends two mornings a week working with an artist facilitator to develop his creative practice and attends the Pyramid Next Step Group. Alexander uses art as a tool to express himself and to share his perspectives and ideas on the world. His artwork is often based on television or video game characters, but he also enjoys drawing animals, birds and vehicles in his own distinctive style. Alexander often weaves lively narratives around the characters that he creates.
Dan Bennet
Dan Bennet is a Pyramid artist who attends Studio Pyramid and is a long-running member of Pyramid’s Eden and Ribblehead groups. Dan enjoys sketching, collage and making 3D sculptures using mixed materials. His work is often inspired by the things he loves, like cars and animals. Dan’s artwork was featured in the Playing Around exhibition at Sunny Bank Mills in 2025 and was recently selected for the Pyramid view on… John Atkinson Grimshaw exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery.
Jem Clancy
Jem is a Pyramid artist and Studio Pyramid member. She is an aspiring dancer and visual artist based in Leeds working primarily in film and animation. Jem’s artwork was also part of Another Way of Seeing, a multi-sensory art exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery which took place in December 2025. Her artwork was recently selected for the Pyramid view on… John Atkinson Grimshaw exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery.
Daniel Fox
Daniel has been coming to Pyramid for many years, first as part of the YoYos group and now as an active member of the Pyramid Next Step Group. Daniel started his first Development Team in September 2025 where he meets with his artist facilitator weekly to develop his creative practice. Daniel loves collage, printing, surface pattern design and is currently experimenting with working with large-scale pieces.
Heather
Heather is a Pyramid member and learning disabled and autistic artist who enjoys lots of art forms, with an interest in character design and cats. Heather’s characters span many queer, racial and disabled identities. Since 2023, Heather has had a display cabinet inside Thackray Museum of Medicine’s community exhibition space, which details her relationship between colour and communication. In 2025, Heather curated her first ever exhibition at Flamingos Coffee House in Leeds.
Ria Lake
Ria is a multimedia artist with a learning disability and epilepsy. They first joined the Pyramid youth group in 2015 and now spends two days each week working with professional artist facilitators to develop their art practice. Much of Ria’s work is colourful and joyful, but they also use artwork to share their frustrations with the social care system and to educate others on the challenges that young people with learning disabilities face. Their artwork was recently selected for the Ones to Watch 2026 exhibition at Sunny Bank Mills.
Ribblehead group
The Ribblehead group is made of twelve Pyramid members who work collaboratively on creative projects. The group has shown work at exhibitions across Leeds for many years. More recently, the group worked with Northern Monk Brewery on a creative upcycling project to redesign old beer tap handles to be used and installed in Northern Monk’s Leeds-based bar venues.
Gardening and Nature Sketching for Wellbeing – 18 May
Join Pyramid during Creativity and Wellbeing Week for a relaxed, drop-in gardening and nature sketching for wellbeing session at the Pyramid Studio in Holbeck.
Help us plant a vibrant dye garden in our courtyard, with carefully chosen plants selected for their rich colours and sensory qualities. These plants will be tended to and used in future creative projects with our members. After some time in the garden, you’ll be invited to head into the studio to enjoy some nature sketching inspired by your time in the garden and the beautiful foliage on display in our studio.
You’ll also have the chance to see our accessible, inclusive art studio in action and meet some of the members who regularly create here.
This is an open session and everyone is welcome. No gardening or drawing experience is needed, and all materials will be provided. Our Creative Programme Coordinator will be on hand to chat with people about what we do.
Event Details
Where? Unit 3, 18 Croydon Street, Leeds LS11 9RT Event Date: Monday 18 May 2026 Event Time: 11am – 2pm Cost: Free to attend Booking: No booking needed, just drop in! Access: For access information for Pyramid Studio, please see our guidePyramid-Studio-Unit-3-access-information-easy-read.pdf
The planting of our dye garden is in partnership with Kirstie Williams, as part of her Gathered Colour project. Our nature-inspired work this year is supported by the Boots Charitable Trust Health and Wellbeing fund.
Food Glorious Food! at HEART – 09 May – 20 June
Studio Pyramid has partnered with the HALO group at Hamara on a new exhibition at HEART which celebrates food and cuisine.
Over the past twelve weeks, Studio Pyramid members, along with members of HALO, have been working on food-inspired artwork across a range of mediums, including a mixture of 2D and 3D work. Food Glorious Food! brings together these new pieces which celebrate the artists’ favourite foods, celebrity chefs, and the joy of sharing meals together. This new exhibition will be on display in the Assembly Bar and Kitchen at HEART for visitors to enjoy.
Event Details
Where? Assembly Bar + Kitchen at Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre (HEART), Bennett Road, Leeds LS6 3HN Exhibition Dates: 09 May – 20 June 2026 Opening times: Monday – Saturday, 9am – 9pm Booking: No booking needed, just drop in! Access: Please see HEART’s accessibility guide for more details: https://heartcentre.org.uk/accessibility
William Stapleton
“I loved my exhibition at archive that was joint with Ria, it was fun doing it with a friend. I made mickey mouse goes to mars book and audio book. I felt happy and proud of my work.”
“I am the store manager at pyramid I make sure everything is tidy, wheelchair accessible and that their are easy read signs. I like to have pictures to help people that don’t read.”
“I am part of vision group and next step and have my own dteam.”
William Stapleton is a Pyramid development team artist who meets with his artist facilitator, Alice B, weekly to develop his creative practice. William is also a member of Pyramid’s Next Step Group and the Visioning Group.
William works with print and paint and creates artworks and items which celebrate Pyramid.
While working with the Beam Team in 2013 he created ideaLeeds, an interactive sound and sculpture installation which was displayed at the Howard Assembly Room, Light Night in Leeds and the Nuit des Lampions in Wiltz, Luxembourg.
Dan Bennet is a Pyramid artist who attends Studio Pyramid and is a long-running member of Pyramid’s Eden and Ribblehead groups.
Dan enjoys sketching, collage and making 3D sculptures using mixed materials. His work is often inspired by the things he loves, like cars and animals. Dan’s artwork was featured in the Playing Around exhibition at Sunny Bank Mills in 2025 and was recently selected for the Pyramid view on… John Atkinson Grimshaw exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery.
Epilepsy and Me at Thackray Museum of Medicine – From April 2026
Pyramid artist Ria Lake has been working with Thackray Museum of Medicine to create Epilepsy and Me, a new display about epilepsy in the museum’s Community Exhibition space.
While visiting the museum, Ria noticed there weren’t any items displayed about epilepsy. They worked with the curation and archive team to look at the museum’s collection of historical objects relating to epilepsy and created artwork in response to these items. The new exhibition showcases this creative response, including a two-metre drop of screen-printed fabric that reimagines the collection.
Ria says: ‘When I first got epilepsy I didn’t understand what it was. I used to say that it felt like a monster inside me. I make art about epilepsy now to help other people understand it.’
The exhibition will also include new artwork and stories from Ria’s fellow Pyramid artists Alfie Fox and D, who also have experience of living with epilepsy.
A celebration of the Soul with Leeds Song Festival – 27 March
Join Pyramid’s High Rise Music group at Bramley Community Centre for A celebration of the Soul, an informal sharing of music and visual art celebrating music in connection with the theme of Soul Music, in collaboration with Leeds Song musicians.
Inspired by interactive workshops led by Leeds Song musicians Philip Smith and Jonathan Fisher, members of the High Rise Music have spent twelve weeks experimenting with sound and visual art, creating unique responses to the theme of Soul Music.
Together the group have been exploring the genre of soul music and the many meaning behind the word. Audiences will hear the original music co-produced with Leeds Song musicians and view the visual art produced in response to the theme.
This is a free event, open to everyone. Refreshments will be provided, and there’s no need to book in advance, just turn up!
Event Details
Where? Bramley Community Centre, Waterloo Lane, LS13 2JB Event Date: Friday 27 March 2026 Event Time: 10:30am – 12pm Cost: Free to attend Booking: No booking needed, just drop in!
A celebration of the Soul is in partnership with Leeds Song Festival 2026, which promotes the enjoyment, understanding, appreciation, composition and performance of art song.
Sunny Bank Mills Print Festival – 08 March
Join Pyramid and other lovely print makers and artists at the Sunny Bank Mills Print Festival on Sunday 08 March from 10 – 4pm.
We will be selling original screenprints, hand printed tea towels, handmade ceramics, bespoke fabric aprons and a collection of greetings cards and more created by our talented Pyramid member artists. All purchases made on the day will help support our work with people with learning disabilities and autism — empowering them to explore the arts, develop their skills, and grow as world-class artists.
Event Details
Where? 1912 Mill, Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, Pudsey LS28 5UJ Date: Sunday 08 March 2026 Time: 10 – 4pm Cost: Print Fair £3.50 entry on the door (carers & under 12s free), no pre-booking required Access: Please see Sunny Bank Mills’ Access guide for more details: https://www.sunnybankmills.co.uk/arts/access/
About Pyramid Print
Pyramid Print is a new initiative to help showcase the creativity of Pyramid member artists by giving them an opportunity to share and sell the work they produce to a wider audience on a public platform.
Artwork by members is professionally curated and used to create a collection of printed merchandise including greeting cards, notebooks and screen printed textiles. These will be sold at small independent retailers and galleries (often alongside exhibitions of original work) and directly at fairs and markets.
Putting Our View Front and Centre: Creating Pyramid View On… John Atkinson Grimshaw
The Visioning Group is made up of seven artists with and without learning disabilities and autism. Four members of the group, James, William, Alice and Rosie, played a key role in curating the exhibition.
Speaking about the intention behind the project, James explains: ‘our view is allowing us to put front and centre on neurodivergency inspired by John Atkinson Grimshaw.’
The exhibition brings together a carefully selected collection of original artworks by Pyramid members. For the Visioning Group, this was their first experience of curating an exhibition.
James reflects on the process: ‘We felt that everyone should be given a chance to show their work, so no one gets left out. That’s the hard part about curating. The hard part is figuring out which one’s left out and which ones enter in the exhibition.’
Featuring over twenty artworks, the exhibition draws inspiration from Grimshaw’s distinctive use of atmosphere, particularly his transition from dusk into night. Alice explains, ‘colour-wise, we looked at colours that might reflect night-time.’
The artworks span a wide range of mediums, including digital art, collage, acrylic on paper and canvas, ceramics and more. When asked how he hopes visitors feel when viewing the exhibition, William says, ‘proud — and to look at the artwork and think, wow!’
Alongside curating the exhibition, the Visioning Group also developed three accessible, self-led creative activities designed to encourage visitors to create their own Grimshaw-inspired artwork.
James describes the activities: ‘One is the shadow puppets, where people can make their own puppets and create shadows out of it and share on social media. The second one was the skyscraper, where people could use the paper notes, post it notes, and then draw on it and stick it on one of the skyscrapers. And the third one was drawing based on my list.’
So far, the feedback on the exhibition has been enormously positive. In January, the Visioning Group hosted an International Day of Disabled People event at Leeds Art Gallery, welcoming people with disabilities, their carers and support organisations to enjoy the exhibition and take part in the creative activities.
The event was very well attended. Rosie comments: ‘It’s exciting and encouraging to see so many people engaging with our artwork and workshops. It’s great to see different organisations learn more about Pyramid and the work we do.’
When asked what he’d say to someone who was thinking about visiting the exhibition, William says: ‘Come and look at what it’s about and try something new.’
Pyramid View On… John Atkinson Grimshaw is exhibiting in the Artspace at Leeds Art Gallery until 19 April 2026.
Joe is a development team artist who works with his artist facilitator Rosie McAndrew, weekly. He is developing a cartoon universe of Greenthorn with over 30 characters. Greenthorn is a gritty seaside town that has been voted ‘The worst place to live in the UK’ and is home to a mix of interesting residents.
In his sessions Joe and Rosie have been writing episode ideas and turning his expressive drawings into postcards for the potential animated series intro.
He is inspired by the art style of SpongeBob SquarePants, Looney Tunes, Oggy and the Cockroaches, Pizza Tower and Mickey Mouse (2013). His humour is influenced by Smiling Friends, Absolutenutcase162, The Whitest Kids U know, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The Simpsons.
Noah
“I am Noah and I am very fond of character design and background art. My art mainly consists of many colourful dragons and other interesting people and creatures. Dragons are special to me as I was born in the year of the dragons and they were the first things I drew at my college. My sense of humour comes from my imagination, family and friends from far and wide.
“My artwork is often based on past experiences from my life and surroundings or made up from my imagination. My characters are mainly families from Europe and North America with unique backstories and supernatural events and powers. Some experience tragedies, some witness events (or are part of them) and some use their abilities to help those in need when all hope is lost.”
Noah is a Pyramid member and development team artist.
James
“I’m a tornado of change and hope, one of my aims is to contribute to our charity who wants others to grow, be connected and make art whenever we can. I attend the visioning group, irregular art school, studio days and the next step art group. I also have my own D-team.”
“I’ve been doing research on AI, making lists on large scrolls and also make ceramic pieces.”
James is an Associate Researcher at the University of Leeds School of Fine Art, working on the Irregular Art School project. As well as being on a development team with artist facilitator, Alice B, he is also a member of Pyramid’s Next Step Group and the Visioning Group. He also attends Studio Pyramid.
Hugo is a development team artist who meets with his artist facilitator, Alice B, weekly. Hugo works with a wide range of materials but prefers drawing. His work often features some of his favourite characters and activities like football and The Bash Street Kids.
Since joining Pyramid, Hugo has experimented with different mediums like textiles, tie dye and painting. Hugo’s artwork was featured in Pyramid’s 2025 Summer Exhibition at HEART in Headingley.
Hugo says: “I have tried drawing, ironing, sewing, laminating, painting and tie dye. I like drawing the best.”
“I drew my favourite bash street kid character, I’m going to paint it next week it is going to the EXHIBITION!”
Good News Story: Ria
Ria is a multimedia artist with a learning disability and epilepsy. She first joined the Pyramid Youth Group in 2015 and now spends two days each week working in Development Team sessions with professional artist facilitators, developing her art practice.
Much of Ria’s work is colourful and joyful, but she has also used artwork to share her frustrations with the social care system and to educate others on the challenges that young people with learning disabilities face.
Working with Pyramid has allowed Ria’s art practice to thrive and this has a positive impact on many aspects of her life. Ria has experimented with a diverse range of artforms including printing, large scale paintings and textiles. She regularly attends Leeds Print Workshop as part of her Pyramid sessions which she loves! Her artwork has been featured in a number of exhibitions in spaces including the Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills, Assembly House, and the University of Leeds. Learning new skills and having opportunities to share her talents with the world has greatly boosted Ria’s confidence and self esteem. She is much more confident meeting new people and is working towards travelling to the Pyramid art studio independently.
“Pyramid feels like a family to me as the staff support me in ways that no one else does! Pyramid supports me to do things and go to places that I’d struggle to access on my own because of my epilepsy. I’m so proud to be exhibiting and selling my art. Having staff that listen to me and respect my ideas makes me feel so happy.” – Ria
It is Ria’s ambition to sell more work as a professional artist and she has made a lot of progress with Pyramid’s support. She has postcards for sale in the Pyramid shop and regularly sells jewellery, prints and lampshades at Pyramid’s art markets. Shops and venues across Leeds including Headingley Heart Cafe, Flavour Like Fancy and Ozziez Cafe stock Ria’s artwork. This work is teaching Ria many transferable skills, including managing her money and communicating professionally with customers.
Pyramid artist featured in Sunny Bank Mills Ones To Watch 2026 Exhibition
The multimedia artist is exhibiting her piece, Integrated Society, which was inspired by the converted textile mill she lives in. It combines research, photography and screen printing on a fabric banner and was influenced by Ria’s experience as an artist with a learning disability.
Ria said: ‘I find the word “integrated” very interesting. I like the idea of lots of different people living together and everyone being equal. For this artwork, I’m thinking about integration where I live, as well as in society as a whole.
‘Textile mills have always been places of integration, where disabled people worked alongside others. This might not have been taken into account by mill owners of the past, or by the companies which renovated my building, but still integration continues.’
James Hill, Director of Pyramid, said: ‘We’re incredibly proud of Ria for being selected for Sunny Bank Mills Ones to Watch. This is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to her dedication and hard work. Ria has been a member of Pyramid for over a decade and, alongside developing her own artistic practice, she generously supports the organisation through volunteering at art markets and helping with fundraising.
‘Ria has long enjoyed visiting exhibitions at Sunny Bank Mills, so having her own work displayed there is especially meaningful, particularly as part of a showcase alongside other emerging artists from across Yorkshire.’
Anna Turzynski, Arts Director at Sunny Bank Mills said: ‘Ria’s work stood out immediately when we started reviewing the applications for this year’s Ones To Watch exhibition. The judges and I were struck by the innovative use of colour and imagery of mills featured in the piece. The Gallery is located in the old cloth warehouse of a textile mill and couldn’t be a better curatorial backdrop for Ria’s piece. I love the scale of the work and recommend visiting the exhibition to see it in person.’
Integrated Society was originally shown in Leeds Industrial Museum as part of the ‘Any Work That Wanted Doing’ exhibition which took place for Leeds 2023, commissioned by Pyramid trustee, Gill Crawshaw. Ones To Watch 2026 showcases some of the most exciting emerging talent Yorkshire has to offer, combining work by artists across multiple disciplines.
The exhibition runs from 10 January to 29 March 2026 in the Gallery at Sunny Bank Mills.
Pyramid View On… John Atkinson Grimshaw – 14 November – 19 April
Pyramid has partnered with Leeds Art Gallery to create an artistic response that celebrates the inspiration of dusk turning to night-time in John Atkinson Grimshaw’s work.
This artistic response features original artwork created and curated by Pyramid member artists, inspired by the distinctive nocturnal scenes of 19th-century Leeds-born artist John Atkinson Grimshaw.
The project celebrates the atmospheric transition from dusk to night-time, a recurring theme in Grimshaw’s work. Pyramid member artists will also be running workshops in the Artspace (check website for details) to support visitors to create their own Atkinson Grimshaw-inspired artwork. Activities include using words as prompts to create your own artwork, making shadow puppets and contributing to an exhibition piece (see more details about the workshops below!).
The Visioning group will be running three family-friendly, inclusive creative workshops on 25 November, 2 and 9 December. Read more about the activities below. If you can’t make a session, you can find instructions for the activities and materials in the Artspace while the artistic response is running!
Activity one: What do you see in the window?
The Visioning group were inspired by John Atkinson Grimshaw’s paintings of buildings at night-time to create their own sculptural silhouette. The group allowed their imaginations to run wild, illustrating colourful “windows” which they added to the sculpture. Audiences are welcome to create their own “windows’ to add to this collaborative art piece.
Activity two: Shadow puppets
The Visioning group were inspired by the beautiful silhouettes that appear throughout Grimshaw’s night-time paintings and spent time making their own silhouettes from black card. The group enjoyed casting shadows with their creations and creating stories around these. Audiences are welcome to join in and create their own shadow puppets, the lighting in Artspace is perfect for bringing them alive!
Activity three: Drawing prompts
Visioning group member James loves writing lists. Grimshaw’s paintings inspired him to make a huge, beautiful list which is written on a watercolour background decorated like the night sky. Every word from James’ list is in a top hat. Audiences are welcome to reach in to select a drawing prompt and create a picture inspired by James’ vivid imagination.
Workshop Details
Where? Artspace, Leeds Art Gallery, The Headrow, LS1 3AA Dates: 25 Nov, 02 Dec and 09 Dec Times: 1-3pm Booking: No need to book, just turn up! Access: Please see Leeds Art Gallery Access Guide for detailed information: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/access-at-leeds-art-gallery-s4q2
The artistic response will run alongside Don’t Let’s Ask For The Moon…: Nocturnes and Atkinson Grimshaw, a major show in the main gallery exploring nocturnal themes in Grimshaw’s work and contemporary responses.
This project is in partnership with Leeds Art Gallery. ‘Pyramid view on… John Atkinson Grimshaw’ features artwork made using recycled canvases, kindly donated by Pinot & Picasso.
