There will be loads more art for visitors to Birmingham to enjoy as Westside venue, the Ikon Gallery, unveils its forthcoming programme for 2022 to 2023.
The contemporary art venue in Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, has announced plans for the next 15 months including exhibitions, off-site projects and events that represent its ongoing commitment to showcase the very best of British and international art.
The new programme commences with solo exhibitions by Midlands-based painter Betsy Bradley and Taiwanese-American filmmaker James T. Hong, both of which run from 3 December this year to 13 February 2022.
Betsy’s Chasing Rainbows exhibition is her first major solo show, while James presents two films on the theme of animals in his first solo exhibition in Europe.
Their conclusion heralds a small exhibition of works by the 15th century Italian Renaissance artist Carlo Crivelli between 23 February and 29 May 2022.
At the same time, visitors can view the first UK display of Swedish Sámi textile artist and painter, Britta Marakatt-Labba, entitled Under the Vast Sky.
To coincide with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Ikon’s Arrivals programme features new commissions by four artists from Commonwealth countries – Abdulrazaq Awofeso, Yhonnie Scarce, Salote Tawale and Osman Yousefzada – whose works can be seen from 10 June to 29 August 2022.
During this time the 4th annual Migrant Festival will again celebrate the contribution made by refugees and migrants to Birmingham and the UK.
In the autumn Ikon presents an exhibition of landscape sketches by 19th century artist Edward Lear, many not shown before.
At the same time, 9 September to November 13, visitors will be able to see a new video installation by Japanese Ainu artist Mayunkiki, conveying aspects of everyday life of her indigenous people.
Next winter’s programme is dedicated to Horror in the Modernist Block, an exhibition of work by contemporary artists from the UK and abroad, between 25 November 2022 and 19 February 2023, which explores the relationship between the aesthetics of architectural modernism and horror.
Throughout the programme Ikon continues to work off-site, with Dean Kelland, artist-in-residence at HMP Grendon in Buckinghamshire, the Ikon Youth Programme and Slow Boat, and Ragnar Kjartansson at St Mary Magdalene in Tanworth-in-Arden. For more information about future events at the gallery visit https://www.ikon-gallery.org/whats-on/
Main picture: Abdulrazaq Awofeso’s A Thousand Men Cannot Build a City, coming to the Ikon next summer.
