Three local artists have secured solo shows after taking part in the ‘Get Gallery Ready’ Bootcamp at Solihull College & University Centre.
Art historian, critic, curator and author, Ruth Millington, helped to create a course to assist artists to build a professional portfolio and develop storytelling techniques to elevate artistic practice.
The Artists, Anisa Mosaiebiniya, Maya Davis-Stokes and Crow Dillon-Parkin have secured solo shows in February, March and April respectively. They will be displaying their work at Stryx JQ which is an artist led studio, project and exhibition space with studios in Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter.
Ruth Millington is delighted: “I’m thrilled to see three talented artists receive solo shows following the Get Gallery Ready Bootcamp. Anisa, Maya and Crow all have such a distinctive creative practice that deserves to be seen on the walls of a reputable gallery like Stryx. This is an important next step in their well-deserved success.”
The Exhibitions start with Artist Anisa Mosaiebiniya with her exhibition entitled ‘As deep as possible’. Anisa says: “Through my art, I channel both the resilience and the healing that have been integral to my story, using it to convey my ongoing journey of self-discovery and empowerment. I aim to create artwork that provides not only visual beauty but also emotional depth, serving as a gentle reminder of resilience and hope.” Anisa was part of the first Bootcamp cohort and continues to develop her practice at Stryx.
Next up is Maya Davis-Stokes ‘Places, faces and spaces I have occupied’ – an autobiographical story with distorted faces and memories which runs through March. Maya says: “My distorted oil paintings tell stories about my life in a way that connects fragmented memories and recollections told by family members and archival photographs. My story is quite unusual with a cult, war, hidden truths and undiagnosed neurodivergence being part of my origin story. I lived in 3 countries before I was 2!”
Crow Dillon-Parkin’s show ‘Small’ will be in April. All work is smaller than 30cm. Crow will be showing a full set of 28 OestroDolls and some small works on canvas and paper. “The OestroDolls are modern poppets of witch dolls constructed around empty Oestrogel (HRT) bottles, which are a biohazard if improperly discarded. The method of making depends on the character and on what materials I have available. I am trying to use up my existing art supplies before buying anything new.”
The Get Gallery Ready bootcamp was funded by the WMCA.
Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, commented: “Achieving success as an artist is notoriously difficult so it’s wonderful to see these three artists land their own shows. While you can’t teach the kind of talent these young people have, there’s plenty that we can do to support gifted creatives to turn their passions into rewarding careers.
“It’s through our range of bootcamps covering all sorts of careers, from art to bricklaying, that thousands of young people across the region are learning the skills they need to secure high-quality jobs and get on the path to a brighter future.”
Creative Bootcamp Manager at Solihull College & University Centre, Sophie Jolly, comments: ‘We’re thrilled to see our bootcampers thriving. Their success reflects real dedication, expert guidance, and the drive that fuels our creative community. All three Artists can see a distinct development in their work and professional careers as Artists following the Bootcamp.”
