EMERGENCE: Ispahani Mukah, Dinah Hewson and Ayodeji Awoyomi
Free to visit, this group exhibition at Birmingham School of Art celebrates the three winners of Birmingham Open 25.
8-23rd April 2026
School of Art, Margaret Street, Birmingham, B3 3BX
10am – 4pm, Mon – Fri, Free entry
Colmore Life is delighted to announce EMERGENCE, a group exhibition celebrating the three winners of the Birmingham Open 25 competition: Ispahani Mukah, Dinah Hewson and Ayodeji Awoyomi.
Curated by local art historian and critic Ruth Millington, the exhibition will feature a selection of works by these emerging and talented Birmingham-based artists who each responded to the theme of ‘light’ with originality and ability.
Among the works selected for this showcase is ‘Light Keeper’ by Mukah, who was crowned winner for his storytelling approach and technical excellence. Drawn with a humble biro pen, it depicts in great detail a woman stood against a city skyline with a symbolic glowing object in her hand.
Giving traditional mark-making a contemporary twist, Mukah uses layering, density, and contrast to create depth, light, and psychological presence. For this exhibition, he will be showing a series of biro drawings on paper featuring local landscapes as well as people from the city, including the late Benjamin Zephaniah.
Birmingham is a theme which weaves its way through the paintings and projections of Dinah Hewson, who won the ‘Highly Commended’ prize. On show will be her atmospheric watercolour scene, ‘The Upside Down Bridge’, which stood out to the judges for its bold vision and compelling narrative. She will also be showcasing more inventive works, including films, which tell stories of Birmingham’s canals, bridges and pathways, as well as the people who walk them.
Stories continue in the photographic work of Ayodeji Awoyomi, the People’s Choice winner. Reclaiming the Black gaze, he pictures his subjects with dignity, power and depth. On display will be ‘Shades of shadows’ and ‘Veil of origin’, where figures emerge from the shadows in cinematic lighting.
Set within a historic city-centre space, the Grade 1 listed building at Margaret Street, this interactive and immersive exhibition is a celebration of Birmingham’s creativity for everyone to enjoy.
Across the group exhibition, and practice of these emerging artists, are interconnected themes of identity, culture, light, and emergence.
