Twelve deaf, autistic and neurodivergent artists continue to leave their mark on Margate’s art scene with their annual Proud 2 Create Summer Exhibition at Margate School.
The works, which are on display now until August 30, are all by artists from the Sandra Art4All Art Studio, which was founded in 2016 by Sandra Hampton to provide a platform for young people with special needs.
The exhibition features the artist’s typically vibrant and diverse collection of drawings, paintings and photographs by artists with learning disabilities, including autism, Charity syndrome, deafness and cerebral palsy.
The studio is designed to provide a haven for artists to be creatively free, supported by carers and loving families. This is the art collective’s fifth major summer exhibition at the school.
Sandra Hampton said: “I am delighted to be back at Margate School for our annual summer show. Our exhibition, entitled ‘Proud2 Create’, is a great way to spark discussion about art and our very different abilities.
“Our art studio is a small space where young people are encouraged to create art that is meaningful to them. While we enjoy sharing our work with the community, the most important elements are the artist’s studio time and well-being. Whether the artwork is planned or happens by chance, each artist is guided to try out adaptive tools and explore exploratory, doable techniques.”
Exhibitors include two of the studio’s youngest artists, who have been selected for the Portfolio Summer Show 2024 at the Turner Contemporary in Margate, which runs now until Sunday 1 September.
This year’s theme is ‘Adapting’. Bethany Davies, who was born with Charge Syndrome and is completely deaf and speechless, was chosen to create ‘I Love You’, a three-dimensional clay hand in British Sign Language.
Dalibor Kovac Stokes, who was born with cerebral palsy and is also completely deaf, visually impaired and unable to speak, was selected for his photo series “Broadstairs”.
Sandra said: “I am particularly proud of our youngest artists. Their work reflects who they are, their communication needs and interests. They are both exceptional at expressing themselves silently and visually through art and it is a privilege for me to be a part of this.”
“Our exhibition is a family-friendly show. We would love to see everyone there and talk about all of our unique skills. Especially welcome are those who have uniquely creative family members.”
Margate School is located at 31-33 High Street, Margate. The exhibition is open daily from 11am-4pm.
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