Unexpected: Continuing Narratives of Identity and Migration

Our new exhibition, 'Unexpected: Continuing Narratives of Identity & Migration' brings the Ben Uri into the present day. Having recently completed our centenary show 'Out of Chaos' at Somerset House, we return to our own gallery space with invited guests.

After our 100 years of exploring identity and migration in London, it is time to open our doors to the next generation of migrants and refugees, with an exhibition run in collaboration with Counterpoint Arts

Expect to see a juxtaposition of works from our permanent collection including Frank Auerbach and Eva Frankfurther with invited artists offering a contemporary response across a range of practices and media. They include Behjat Omer Abdulla, Güler Ates, James Russell Cant, Ana Cvorovic, Juan Delgado, Tam Joseph, Joyce Kalema, Jasleen Kaur, Fowokan George Kelly, Jessica Marlowe, Edwin Mingard, Eugene Palmer, Zory Shahrokhi, Salah Ud Din and others.

Both individually and collectively, the featured works touch on themes of journeys, displacement, loss, memory and identity, evoking powerful and sometimes unexpected juxtapositions and responses.

By visiting this exhibition you are not only supporting the artists involved but you are also supporting our vision. This will hopefully allow us to relocate to a central London location, a permanent monument to past, present and future generations of émigré artists.