Delighted to be participating in this show focusing on artist collectives which opens at the Bomb Factory in Marylebone on 21^st May.

Press Release:

Collectivism
Or : The emergence of the collective during a cultural crisis

The Bomb Factory Art Foundation is pleased to present Collectivism, a group exhibition bringing together UK-based artist collectives whose practices span film, sculpture, installation, video, music, painting and textiles.

The art world has long upheld the idea of the artist as auteur, often framing artistic success through individual authorship, solo exhibitions and the mythology of singular vision. At a time of increasing social fragmentation and rising living costs, this model feels increasingly untenable. Sustaining an artistic practice alone has rarely been more difficult. In response, artist collectives have emerged as vital networks of support, offering shared authorship and new ways of working. Collectivism brings these approaches into focus, presenting work shaped through collective thinking and cultural exchange.

The exhibition at our Marylebone gallery brings together artists working across distinct contexts and geographies. London-based collective NiNE8 works across music, poetry, sculpture, archival material and moving image, operating through a model of ‘creative currency’ in which skills and resources are exchanged to support both individual and collective practice. This spirit of resource-sharing runs throughout the exhibition, from House of Goblin in Stroud, which combines ceramics, workshops and artist residencies through an integrated model of co-operation, to The Transit Collective in Margate, whose multidisciplinary practice creates space for exploration through walking, travel and making. Presented alongside a wider selection of groups, these approaches reflect the range and adaptability of collective working today, from grassroots support networks to socially engaged forms of practice.

Through our work providing affordable studio space and building a shared programme with artists, we’ve become increasingly aware of the financial and structural pressures that make solo practice difficult to sustain. In response,Collectivism considers collective working as a more viable and resilient model, allowing artists to share resources and knowledge while maintaining distinct voices.

Throughout the exhibition, the space will host workshops, talks, educational events and collaborative projects. These activities open up a wider dialogue around the ideas and values of collective practice, inviting audiences to engage more directly with the processes behind the work. The programme will also extend its reach through student private views and workshops, encouraging a more active relationship between artists, audiences and the space itself.
Founded in 2015 in a former munitions factory in Archway, The Bomb Factory Art Foundation has grown into five galleries and studio complexes across London. Over the past decade, it has supported hundreds of artists through affordable studio provision, welcomed thousands of visitors, and built long-term partnerships with schools, charities and community organisations.