New exhibition ‘Silent Echoes, Spoken Truths: Curtis Holder’ opens at Leeds Art Gallery

I am excited to announce that my new exhibition Silent Echoes, Spoken Truths: Curtis Holder opens at Leeds Art Gallery, UK on 08 November, 2024.

The show features a new body of works on paper documenting my immersion into the life of the Gallery, exploring the collection, and forming bonds with the people I met, in particular eight individuals based in Leeds whose portraits I have drawn.

The title of the exhibition reflects the deep – yet often unspoken or overlooked – past histories and emotions of people of the Global Majority in Leeds. It highlights the process of bringing their voices to light with the sharing and revealing of personal stories through dialogue and drawing.

The new large-scale drawings are accompanied by personal responses from the sitters. They are also displayed alongside works from the collection that have interested and intrigued the sitters; works they felt emotional towards or saw themselves reflected within.

The exhibition follows an 18-month artist residency at Leeds Art Gallery as part of 20/20 – an ambitious three-year programme by the UAL’s Decolonising Arts Institute with funding from Freelands Foundation, Arts Council England and University of the Arts London. Combining artist residencies with artistic commissioning at scale, 20/20 brings together 20 emerging artists of colour with 20 UK public art collections, leading to 20 new permanent acquisitions.

Visit the exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds, UK from 08 November, 2024 until 13 April, 2025.

Seki Lynch, coloured pencil on paper, 150 × 123 cm, 2024