The London exhibition fighting elitism in the art world

Despite the UK government’s obvious disdain for creativity (especially if you’re young and working class) the nation remains a breeding ground for innovation in the visual arts, from painting to sculpture and photography. The problem is, with galleries at risk of closure due to funding cuts and other institutions growing increasingly elitist: what are talented young artists supposed to do with their work? How can they get it seen?

Back in December 2022, the London-based painter Isaac Andrews took this matter into his own hands, staging a DIY group show titled Collectivist in Peckham, in collaboration with Appear Here. Alongside Andrews’ own work, the exhibition brought together emerging artists including Shaquille-Aaron Keith, Alfie White, and Ola Tokunboh Badiru, all of whom are now returning for a second iteration, Collectivist II.

“The first show was very successful and opened up a lot of doors for me,” Andrews tells Dazed. “The response was incredible, and that’s a testament to the quality of the works.” On top of that, though, it showed the artist and curator that it was feasible to bring together a group of young creatives in such a way that no one loses money, or a percentage of their sales to a faceless middleman. “There are hardly any opportunities for emerging artists to show work at a professional level,” he adds. “So the biggest takeaway was: let’s keep this going.”

Taking place in Deptford later this month (in collaboration with Appear Here and Deptford Market Yard), Collectivist II once again focuses on spotlighting the work of emerging artists, regardless of their education or art-world hype, and forging a “sense of unity, community, and coming together”. Joining some of the names from the previous show are the likes of Athene Club cofounder Zaineb Abelque, Amber Pinkerton, Teoni, TJ Saw, Sam Wootton, and Joy Yamusangie.

Isaac Andrews tells us more about the upcoming exhibition below.

Can you tell us a bit about the process of bringing together a diverse selection of creatives for Collectivist II?

Isaac Andrews: I wanted to not only bring together a selection of artists who I respect and admire, and am a fan of most importantly, but also artists that have something to say. I wanted a varied range of perspectives, and [to] allow for the conversation between these different practices to come to fruition. I’ve been to many group shows that just feel so same-samey, or so niche in theme. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s something I wanted to avoid. 

What common threads unite these artists’ work?

Isaac Andrews: It’s hard to draw one thread, and that’s something I wanted to be the case. A common thread is that they’re all emerging, London-based artists, but all exploring very varied things in their practices. One of the main things that unites them is the exploration of identity. There are some self-portraits (for example Teoni’s work), some self-referential works (like Joseph Awuah-Darko’s paintings), some works looking at the self through the lens of racial identity, or gender, and so on. 

I was less focused on creating a theme for the artists to work to. The theme is the artists, and bringing them together, so [I] wanted to give them some agency as to what they wanted to show, if they had new works they hadn’t had the chance to show yet, or unseen personal projects they’ve been waiting to show. That felt more important to me. 

You’ve emphasised not placing too much significance on education or art world reputation – could you talk a bit more about that decision?

Isaac Andrews: The art world is already elitist enough, and infamously hard to break into as an emerging artist. There’s a few people fighting this, Ellie Pennick at Guts Gallery being a great example, but this is a rare case. I feel restricting a show to only people who have gone through the traditional art school structure seems so backwards. The requirements of an art school degree ostracise a huge number of people. The focus for me, when curating these shows, is solely on the quality of the work, not on where they studied or what accolades they’ve received. 

Your own work is featured in the exhibition. What inspired these pieces, and what makes your painting ‘No One’s Ever Bought Her Flowers’ (below) particularly special?

Isaac Andrews: My own works in the show are predominantly inspired by relationships and human touch. ‘No One’s Ever Bought Her Flowers’ is the start of a new series, and felt so apt as the concept of the show is about uplifting each other and giving other artists their deserved flowers. 

The act of gifting flowers, whatever the intention, feels so intrinsically human, and is such a beautiful thing. I love seeing people carry flowers, how it changes the way they walk, how they hold them close to their chest. It’s maybe my favourite painting I’ve ever made.

How does the act of curating influence your own artistic practice?

Isaac Andrews: It really goes hand in hand. I think being an artist nowadays, you have to be conscious, and manage, how your work is consumed, both IRL and in the digital realm. It’s also interesting as my works are about human connection, and bringing people together through empathy and awareness. Starting these shows, where the whole concept is bringing artist together, was really a no-brainer – it just made sense. 

Have you started thinking about the third edition of the group show?

Isaac Andrews: From the first conception of this show, it’s always been something I’ve wanted to continue for a while, in multiple versions and in different forms. I’d love to do it on an even larger scale, featuring more artists. I’d also love to take it global, giving a platform for emerging artists around the world.

Collectivist II runs at Deptford Market Yard on March 23 and 24, in collaboration with Appear Here.