OUTDOOR EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

Silvia Rosi: Encounters

Jesus College Northgate Development hoardings, Cornmarket Street, next to WH Smith

In collaboration with Photoworks and supported by Jesus College, Oxford and Oxford City Council Culture Fund.

An interview with the artist and images are here.

No longer available to view outdoors.

2016, Studio Portrait
self portrait of me as my father
Self Portrait as My Father (2019) © Silvia Rosi, Originally commissioned through Jerwood/Photoworks Awards 2020
© Fran Monks, The Gatehouse Women - 8

Strength and Resilience:

Celebrating the achievements of the community of women at The Gatehouse, with photographer Fran Monks

St Giles’ churchyard, St Giles, between Banbury Road and Woodstock Road 

No longer available to view

‘Strength and Resilience’ is a series of portraits by Fran Monks of the women at the Gatehouse Project; a drop in cafe and community centre for the homeless and vulnerably housed in Oxford. This registered charity is led by women and has many long-term female volunteers and guests.

Fran Monks was the photographer on the Nice Cup of Tea project, on display at The Ashmolean Museum, exploring the untold stories and hidden narratives of empire, trade and transatlantic slavery through this contemporary art installation inspired by the Ashmolean’s European Ceramics collection.
View event on the Ashmolean website

Fran Monks also made photographic portraits for Portrait of Keble, an installation for Keble College's 150th anniversary, featuring portraits of 28 individuals. These include alumni, current students, staff, and fellows, who were chosen for their inspirational achievements, be they personal, professional, or both. A short film of Fran introducing her highlights from the portrait series on YouTube.

Read More about Strength and Resilience with Fran Monks

During the COVID19 pandemic the Gatehouse continued to work for their community by providing food by delivery and take away. They also gave one-to-one support to those in need. During lockdown many street homeless were housed and tenant protection was provided to the vulnerably housed. However, there remains much uncertainty about the future.

Now, more than ever, we want to recognise the strength, resilience and achievements, no matter how big or small, of the women of the Gatehouse community. We want to make dignified, painterly portraits, and exhibit them outside in the St Giles churchyard, as a way to demonstrate how valued and varied their contributions are, especially during these difficult times. By putting staff, volunteers and guests, side by side, we hope to challenge stereotypes, reduce the stigma attached to homelessness and emphasise the value of all to the community.

Fran Monks was also the photographer on the ‘Nice Cup of Tea’ project, on display at The Ashmolean Museum, exploring the untold stories and hidden narratives of empire, trade and transatlantic slavery through this contemporary art installation inspired by the Ashmolean’s European Ceramics collection. See https://www.ashmolean.org/event/nice-cup-of-tea 

Anna Atkins: Botanical Illustration & Photographic Innovation

Trinity College gate, Parks Road, Oxford

Still available to view on Parks Road, Oxford (opposite Wadham College)

Anna Atkins, an English botanist, is renowned for her remarkable compendium, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, which she privately published in approximately twelve instalments between 1843 and 1853.

The photography of Anna Atkins is celebrated for its beauty and innovation, and is found in many of the world’s major museums, including the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford.

Read more about Anna Atkins here.

Online 'in conversation' between Geoff Batchen, Professor of the History of Art at the University of Oxford, and Dr Lena Fritsc, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Ashmolean Museum, on 10 November at 5pm - please see our Events page for registration details.

Iris Sibirica; Anna Atkins (British, 1799 - 1871), and Anne Dixon (British, 1799 - 1877); 1854; Cyanotype; 25.4 × 19.8 cm (10 × 7 13/16 in.); 84.XP.467.5; No Copyright - United States (http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/)
© Atkins Dixon Iris