BRISTOL.- Arnolfini, Bristol's international centre for contemporary arts, announced an ambitious 2025 exhibition programme, featuring four extraordinary artists whose work spans painting, drawing, sculpture and installation, each addressing complex questions about the world in which we live.
The year begins with Being Here (8 March to 25 May), the first major survey exhibition by acclaimed British artist Barbara Walker. Following its successful run at The Whitworth, this comprehensive exhibition presents nearly 60 works, including Walker's Turner Prize-nominated series 'Burden of Proof'. The exhibition charts Walker's compelling figurative practice from the 1990s to present day, showcasing her dedication to creating space for Black presence, power and belonging through various media, from delicate graphite drawings to embossed reliefs.
Summer brings together two powerful exhibitions (28 June to 28 September) featuring British artist Sahara Longe's first institutional solo exhibition alongside artist Dana Awartani, Saudi Arabian born and of Palestinian decent, in her first European solo show.
Longe presents a new body of work continuing her exploration of semi-abstract figures moving between private and public spaces, including two monumental 4 metre-long paintings, whilst Awartani’s multimedia work honours traditional craft-making techniques, exploring themes of collective healing and cultural sustainability, including her poignant Venice Biennale commission Come, let me heal your wounds. Let me mend your broken bones (2024).
The Autumn programme welcomes British artist Emma Talbot (18 October 2025 to 8 February 2026), whose exhibition features drawing, silk paintings, sculpture, installation and animation.
Centred around the multi-part installation Are you a living thing that is dying or a dying thing that is living?/Everything is Energy, co-commissioned with Copenhagen Contemporary, Talbot's work explores our relationship with the natural and technological world through her distinctive visual poetry.
Gemma Brace, Head of Exhibitions at Arnolfini, says: “Our exhibitions programme for the year ahead reflects the diversity and complexity of contemporary life – asking questions about identity, presence, conflict, cultural heritage, technological progress and societal alienation – whilst creating a platform for artists at multiple stages of their career and celebrating the many communities that we represent.”
All exhibitions are brought to life through an accompanying programme of workshops, live events, family activities, community gatherings and tours for visually impaired audiences, delivered in collaboration with Arnolfini’s creatives in residence and community partners.
