Humanity: The Outside In National Exhibition

A ward-winning arts charity Outside In, which provides a platform for artists facing significant barriers to the art world, presents works by 80 artists in a new exhibition ‘Humanity’, at Sotheby’s London in January 2023 before touring to Glasgow and Brighton later in the year.

This is the sixth National Open exhibition organised by the charity, which was established in 2006 to assist artists facing barriers due to health, disability, social circumstance and isolation. The national call-out attracted a record number of entries by 500 artists. Over half of the works on show are by artists who have never exhibited with Outside In before and many have not previously exhibited at all. Images of submitted work will be shown on large screens at each exhibition alongside the 80 selected pieces. Shortlisted work will be judged by artist Bob and Roberta Smith, following in the footsteps of previous judges including Grayson Perry and Cathie Pilkington. The winning artist will have their own solo exhibition in 2024, and there will be two other prizes of art materials on offer.

"There has never been a time in recent history where the theme of humanity has had such direct relevance to the world we are living in. The challenges posed by environmental change, war and COVID-19 have left us to consider what it is to be a human and how to behave humanely."

Marc Steene, Founder and Director, Outside In

Outside In artists have interpreted humanity from a wide variety of perspectives, both personal and global, and include paintings and drawings, sculpture, ceramics, photography, film and performance pieces.