2023 has been a fun-packed year at Enter Gallery. As well as introducing 14 new artists to the gallery, we’ve hosted packed out events in Brighton and London, bringing the work of talented people to the masses and celebrating how powerful great art can be in connecting us all.
As 2023 draws to a close (and the planning for 2024 gets underway), we wanted to take a moment to celebrate what has been a wonderful year with a recap of all our 2023 events.
JANUARY
Rare Print Show
We brightened an otherwise gloomy January with our coveted Rare Print Show - a much-anticipated event that gives our customers extraordinary access to some of the most collectible works in our archive. Highlights from the 2023 show included pieces from the likes of Francis Bacon, Damien Hirst and Takashi Murakami.
FEBRUARY
Sneakers by Dave White: A 20-Year Celebration
While you likely know him as a ‘master of animal portraiture’ – Dave White kick-started his career by pioneering the Sneaker Art movement with his Pop Art-inspired paintings of desirable trainers.
As 2023 marked the 20th anniversary of the collection that launched his prestigious career, we thought it only fitting to mark the occasion with a show. The event enticed sneakerheads from across Brighton and beyond with the promise of two new limited edition prints and three original paintings direct from White’s personal archive.
Plant Eat Man with Yan Skates
In February, we also hosted a night of avant-garde flower arranging with Yan Skates of Netflix’s Big Flower Fight. Fresh from the launch of his cheeky collaboration, Hannah Shillito x Yan Skates, the flamboyant florist guided attendees to create something spectacular using a trio of items: a plant, something you could eat, and something man-made.
MARCH
Words Are Weapons by RYCA
In March, RYCA brought us Words Are Weapons – his typographic homage to the quotes from TV, film and music that we all know and love. This show marked another anniversary for one of our artists – 15 years since RYCA crafted his first artworks using movie quotes! Since then, we’ve seen RYCA display his love of the movies across his oeuvre, and in this show alone we saw quotes from Planet of the Apes, Dirty Dancing and A Few Good Men.
APRIL
In April, Enter Gallery welcomed Canadian artist, Ola Volo to Brighton. Volo is known for large-scale murals of empowered women proudly taking up space in the world. For her first mural in the UK, Volo created a work based on the Joker from her Queen’s Court series, which she explains she chose especially because:
“Brighton is such a creative place. So many iconic artworks have been created here so I knew it was okay to take a bit of a risk and create something fashionable and edgy. Everything I know about Brighton is style, sass and power, and I think this piece defines that.”
Over the three days that Volo was painting the mural, many art lovers stopped by to watch her work and to ask questions about the piece. Volo’s artwork was so popular that we released a limited edition print of Joker in August, and Enter Gallery’s street art tour with graffiti-artist, Req, now incorporates a stop to see the mural (which you can find on Over Street by Brighton Station).
Enter Gallery's London Pop-Up
In April, we also headed back up to London for our second Pop-Up at the Truman Brewery in Shoreditch. We love being in the capital to meet art lovers that can’t make the trip down to the coast. The team had a lovely time chatting about all the great art on display, particularly the pieces that were exclusive to the Pop-Up from the likes of Jayson Lilley, Magnus Gjoen and Charlotte Rose.
Our opening night was a buzzing affair, with lots of our artists showing up to meet people and chat about their artworks. The event also marked the launch of our collaboration with Brighton’s Unbarred Brewery, with people drinking from cans designed by RYCA, Richard Berner and Kai and Sunny.
During the Pop-Up we also hosted group show, Make It Reign. To mark the King’s coronation, we curated a regal collection of punks, pop culture icons, corgis and queens, from Hannah Shillito, Sarah Arnett, Jamie Reid and more. You can view the Make it Reign collection here.
MAY
In May, we hosted the first of our two 2023 events with photographic artist, Mark Vessey. We celebrated the launch of Simon – a new piece immortalising the record collection of Simon Dunmore of Defected Records. It was a great night, with Simon taking to the decks to entertain the crowds.
JUNE
Art Yard Sale
We kicked off a busy June with the return of our Art Yard Sale – an event that takes place every year during the final weekend of Brighton Fringe, and features big names selling art from their own market stalls.
Not only did the sun shine all day long, but there was lots of fun to be had. Highlights included Haus of Lucy’s raffle, Benjamin Thomas Taylor’s lucky dip, and Graham Carter’s live screenprinting. We’ll be returning to Jubilee Square in 2024, so watch this space!
Connecting the Roots Charity Auction
In June, we also hosted a benefit art auction to raise funds for Brighton-based environmental charity, Connecting the Roots. The organisation is hard at work restoring ecosystems deemed vital to the fight against climate change in Costa Rica.
A fantastic selection of our generous artists donated artworks to the auction, including Dave White, Chris Levine and Jana Nicole. Funds raised have since been used to complete essential work at a High School in the heart of the charity’s rewilding project, building a new classroom, providing an environmental education programme and creating infrastructure for waste management and recycling.
Ghost Town by Haus of Lucy
We wrapped up June with the much-anticipated solo show of one of Brighton’s most beloved artists, Haus of Lucy. In Ghost Town, Lucy explored the death of the high street, and its effect on our hearts and minds as we gradually lose the spaces for connection that once populated every town centre. We transformed the gallery into Ghost Town for the show, recreating a high street and local park made from Lucy’s hilarious ceramics.
JULY
In July, Euan Roberts brought his colourful cast of characters to Enter Gallery for his second solo show with us, A Hero’s Journey. The show was Roberts’ take on the narrative trope that dictates you must overcome struggle and adversity to become the person you’re meant to be. Through his uplifting works, Roberts brought us back into the present moment, helping us realise that we’re all just fine the way we are… or as he explains: “Life’s a journey. It’s about being okay with where you’re at, wherever that may be.”
AUGUST
Banner Making Workshop with Rebecca Strickson
To celebrate the release of her exclusive, A Lover and a Fighter, Rebecca Strickson hosted a banner-making workshop at the gallery, helping attendees to craft banners ready for Brighton’s Pride weekend. Using recycled materials and her knack for a catchy slogan, Strickson shared her love of banners and inspired the attendees to take to the streets to fight for love.
Vintage Shuffle x Fatboy Slim
Hundreds braved the elements on a rainy night in August to celebrate the launch of Fatboy Slim’s collaboration with Vintage Shuffle – a collage artist who created her EAT SLEEP RAVE series from the wristbands the superstar DJ had accumulated over the course of his career. With Fatboy spinning records, and the collection completely selling out, it was certainly a night to remember.
SEPTEMBER
Enter Gallery Pop-up – Canary Wharf
Come September it was time to head out on the road again, and this time we brought the magic of Enter Gallery to Canary Wharf. At the 10-day Pop-Up, we launched new artists, Arthur and Justine Smith.
We also curated a special collection to coincide with the relaunch of Yinka Ilori’s 3D printed basketball court just around the corner, Be The Best You Can Be – which reflected the energy and culture of the basketball court, and the ever-optimistic outlook of Ilori’s work.
Past Present Future Now by Bonnie and Clyde
Back in Brighton, we presented a showcase of rare and original art from acclaimed Brighton artist, Bonnie and Clyde. An entire gallery wall was dedicated to the artist’s wistful work, giving people the chance to experience unique pieces from her archive, and the incredible attention to detail that this celebrated artist pours into her art.
OCTOBER
The Shakespeare Tobacco Company by Charlotte Rose
In October, we headed back up to the capital for Charlotte Rose’s second solo show in conjunction with Enter Gallery. In The Shakespeare Tobacco Company, Rose continued her exploration of cigarette branding only this time the works were given a literary twist courtesy of the great bard, William Shakespeare.
The collection of new original paintings and limited edition prints thoughtfully-evoked classics such as Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet to compare Shakespearean tragedy with the conflicts that arise between cigarette company and loyal consumer.
NOVEMBER
Art Yard Sale ONLINE
The November edition of our Art Yard Sale was one of our most popular yet! We had over 30 incredible exclusive pieces from our team of artists, with mini prints of popular editions from the likes of Joe Webb and Eddy Bennett flying off the walls. Explore the collection here.
Mark Vessey Hip Hop
When it’s time for a Mark Vessey launch, we know we’re in for a party, especially as the launches of his Norman and Simon pieces, were some of the most raucous we’ve enjoyed at Enter Gallery.
The November launch of his HIP HOP exclusive was no different, with hip hop lovers from across Brighton crowding into the gallery to celebrate the new artwork and to enjoy classic tracks spun by local DJ, Burnt Toast.
DECEMBER
You Can Be Anything (*or Nothing) by Richard Berner
Our final event of 2023 saw a gallery take over by Richard Berner’s gang of champs in an exploration of the idea of the inner and outer critic, and how society’s obsession with the betterment makes us miserable.
The show featured an incredible selection of Berner’s amusing-yet-thoughtful works, including original pieces, limited editions, and for the first time in his career, sculptures. Our team loved hosting Berner’s debut solo show in Brighton and it was the perfect way to round off an incredible year.
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