Art & the Self since the 1990s at Longside Gallery

An Arts Council Collection Touring Exhibition

Self portraiture maintains an enduring presence throughout art history; in recent years artists have revolutionised and extended the genre by incorporating action, performance, narrative and explorations of identity.

In My Shoes explores the ways in which artists based in the UK have represented themselves in their work since the 1990s. Encompassing a range of media including film, photography and sculpture, In My Shoes draws primarily from the Arts Council Collection, with key loans from other UK collections, to investigate these dynamic approaches.

This exhibition offers a timely opportunity to consider the legacy of a key aspect of 1990s British art. The show begins with key early works by so-called ‘Young British Artists’ including Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Gavin Turk, who received international attention for putting themselves in the frame with bold and confrontational works. The exhibition continues with the work of a younger generation of artists including Rachel Maclean and Bedwyr Williams who have each established an active role within their work. In My Shoes concludes with some of the most recent works to enter the Arts Council Collection, some on public display for the first time since acquisition.

The rise of the ‘selfie’ in contemporary society and the construction of digital identities through social media offers a timely wider context for the exhibition.

In My Shoes: Art and the Self Since 1990', Longside Gallery, Yorkshire, (30 March–17 June 2018), touring to Attenborough Arts Centre, University of Leicester; PACCAR Room, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon; Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth University and The Harley Gallery, Welbeck throughout 2018 - 2019