We’re Going To Need A Bigger Brush!
Opening event – Thursday 22 January 2026 from 6.30pm at Modern Art Oxford (everyone is invited).
Exhibition – 23 January – 22 March 2026, Modern Art Oxford (except Mondays)
About the Exhibition
We’re Going To Need A Bigger Brush! – Celebrate identity, creativity, and community in this vibrant group exhibition featuring artwork and film by learning-disabled and autistic artists.
Presented by the Shadowlight Artists in collaboration with Modern Art Oxford, this is the first public showcase of work created through the new Shadowlight Supported Studios project. The playful title riffs on the iconic line from Jaws—“You’re going to need a bigger boat!”—hinting at the scale and ambition of this creative journey.
Who Are the Shadowlight Artists?
The Shadowlight Artists are a collective of talented and ambitious learning-disabled and autistic artists supported by Film Oxford. This exhibition marks the inaugural year of the Shadowlight Supported Studio, coinciding with Film Oxford’s 40th Anniversary.
Since 2009, the group has produced powerful work across painting, sculpture, film, and theatre, reaching audiences across the UK and internationally.
The Creative Process
Since April 2025, the artists have met weekly to shape the collective’s vision, set goals, and co-create artworks in a lively, supportive studio environment. They regularly collaborate with professional artists, including Chris Oakley, Poppy Johnson-Doherty, and Su Frizzell, to explore new art forms and experiment with diverse media.
What’s on Display?
Through film, photography, printmaking, costume, and prop-making, the group reimagines identities and shares personal experiences. Highlights include:
- Three collaborative films combining the artists’ drawings and collages with live performances.
- Shadowlight Artists at the Movies – inspired by vintage film posters, featuring costumes made from recycled materials.
- Movie Madness – a new film created by young people from Yellow Submarine, an Oxfordshire charity supporting those with learning disabilities and autism.
- Animated works from Chilworth House School, where students’ imagined characters were brought to life using AI-assisted techniques.
These projects invite participants to step into roles within their own imagined worlds.
To plan your visit, go to modernartoxford.org.uk/whats-on/shadowlight-artists
