Exhibition at Fusion Arts Gallery showcases art by people experiencing homelessness.
The Through Our Eyes exhibition, based aims to challenge stigma around homelessness, demonstrating that everyone has potential and anyone can be creative.
The exhibition features artworks created by Homeless Oxfordshire residents during art therapy
sessions and creative workshops, and the pieces explore expressions of their feelings and
experiences, showing the challenges and joys of daily life as a person facing homelessness.
Homeless Oxfordshire CEO Simon Hewett-Avison said:
“Much of the work we do here at Homeless Oxfordshire supports individuals to process their
experiences and express their feelings. Our regular art program provides an opportunity for our
residents to do just that while being creative.”
Using a variety of mediums including clay, chalk, pen, acrylic, collage and pencil, residents worked
with local art teacher Vickie Kearney to create a variety of pieces, including mixed media collage
“Chaos Factor”, and a prison-inspired piece in pen and ink.
Vickie said: “Together with residents we have explored the artistic process, sometimes more
independently and other times more collaboratively to support a growth in confidence and self-
esteem. I have had the privilege to listen to experiences residents have been brave enough to share with the world through their artwork.” She added: “It has been a pleasure and joy to support this creative process.”
The charity also worked with local mural artist Lisa Curtis who ran creative workshops and supported residents to design and paint an expressive mural that will eventually be displayed at one of Homeless Oxfordshire’s properties.
Simon Hewett-Avison said: “We hope the exhibition surprises and moves people. Homelessness is
perhaps not a part of the community that people might associate with art, but our talented
residents have shown that anyone can be creative.”
Watch this video - We caught up with Simon Hewett-Avison (CEO of Homeless Oxfordshire) Verity (Complex Needs Team Manager) and Ryan (Peer Mentor) at the opening of Through Our Eyes. They shared insights into the exhibition - the idea behind the project and elements of artwork that they found inspiring. A highlight was the collaborative mural that was created by @lisa_made_it with the residents and staff at O’Hanlon House. Artist @victoriakearneyart also facilitated open art sessions with the residents to produce the artwork on display.
