You are warmly invited to join us for a special preview of our latest exhibition, Traces of the Non-Existent by Ebun Sodipo, where you will have the opportunity to meet the artist and enjoy a first look of the exhibition ahead of it’s public opening.
Artist Networking
From 5.30pm, we invite artists, art workers and creatives to join us ahead of the preview for an extra half an hour of informal networking.
About the exhibition
Traces of the Non-Existent by Ebun Sodipo weaves together sculpture, collage, and text to explore the experiences, histories, and strategies of resistance of real and imagined Black trans women across time.
At the heart of the exhibition is the figure of Vitoria - a 16th-century Black trans woman who was enslaved and defied European conceptions of gender and the body. Through an assemblage of historical fragments and imagined futures, Sodipo reclaims and reconfigures Black trans narratives, inviting audiences to engage with histories that have been silenced or erased.
Moving beyond the limits of historical documentation, Sodipo speculates on alternative futures, envisioning worlds where Black trans lives are empowered, connected, and celebrated.
Traces of the Non-Existent is kindly supported by the Henry Moore Foundation, Patrick Holmes, and the Portsmouth Pride Trust.
The work will continue as part of a project with Build Hollywood, ensuring its legacy extends beyond Portsmouth. The exhibition will travel to Brighton and Birmingham, aligning with their respective Pride celebrations and further amplifying its impact across the UK.
Image credit: Ebun Sodipo ‘Left Hand of the Sisters’ 2024. Installation view at Southwark Park Galleries, London. Originally commissioned for Jerwood Survey III (2024-25), led by Southwark Park Galleries and supported by Jerwood Arts.
