Own Personal Jesus
Own Personal Jesus is an exhibition exploring the intersection of queerness and religious aesthetics, from the domestic refuge of the curator’s own home.
Historically, religious dogma has carved a deliberate schism between religion and LGBTQ+ rights. However, there have always been queer movements that utilise the aesthetics of religion to subvert this power dynamic. Catholicism offers an aesthetic rich for repurpose, allowing striking political art, fashion trends, and explorations of identity to flourish in this intersection between queer identity and religious doctrine.
Own Personal Jesus displays the work of six artists who explore this intersection through painting, sculpture, poetry and film, creating a subversive and exciting collection of work. Situated within the curator’s flat, Own Personal Jesus draws on the concept of Dutch house churches known as Schuilkerk; Catholic churches hidden in domestic spaces to escape public worship laws enforced by the Dutch Protestant Church. Here, the exhibition serves as a queer spiritual space for devotees to gather and celebrate creativity.
20th - 22nd October 2023
The Art of the Football Scarf, OOF Gallery
The football scarf is brandished by supporters around the world, swung above heads at matches, worn down the pub, nailed to bedroom walls. It’s ubiquitous, and its capacity for visual branding hasn’t escaped the attention of artists. So we’ve pulled together close to a hundred football scarves by dozens of contemporary artists and hung them from the ceiling and filled the gallery walls, just like in one of those amazing little football bars you stumble across on holiday. We've collected scarves by the likes of David Shrigley, Guerrilla Girls, Babak Ganjei, Gray Wielebinski, Aurore Le Duc and Bedwyr Williams. There’s searing cultural critique here, loads of sexuality, tons of humour, endless colour and boundless ideas, all contained on gorgeous bits of knitted acrylic. It’s football scarves, but it’s art. OK?
4th November 2022 - 25th February 2023
Press