Meet our Commissioned Artists

nnull

I am nnull(he/him). I am a multidisciplinary artist and researcher based in London, UK. I work across several disciplines, operating across the cultural, research and human rights sectors. 

My work is first and foremost therapeutic, serving as a space to unpack intergenerational trauma and intersectional struggles that I am currently facing, while attempting to help others out along the way. As a transgender migrant, much of my work is autobiographical, journaling my experiences and the broader politics at play. The aim of my work is to interrogate how inequality is systematically constructed, to affirm the experiences of those who face injustice and to promote a more equitable world by any means possible.

I work under a pseudonym to protect my identity as I face persecution in my country of origin.

Zita Holbourne

I am a black (dual heritage), disabled woman, a multi-disciplinary artist and a human rights / equality campaigner. I am a visual artist, curator, poet, writer, vocalist and author. My art practice focuses on campaigning for equality, freedom, justice and human rights and against discrimination and injustice. I organise and participate in community art exhibitions focused on social issues, equality, justice, women, black communities, marginalised communities, disabled people, austerity, migration, displacement and climate change and perform and exhibit internationally.

I am the co-founder and national chair of BARAC UK – Black Activists Rising Against Cuts established 2010, to campaign against the disproportionate impacts of austerity on racialised people and marginalised and working-class communities with an intersectional focus, against racism and injustice and for migrant and refugee rights. BARAC has also worked with DPAC over the years and DPAC co-curated a guerrilla exhibition at Tate Modern which featured my art.

I am also a trade unionist – National Vice President of PCS Union and Joint National Chair of Artists’ Union England. I am the curator of the TUC Roots Culture Identity art exhibition now in its tenth year established in memory of Stephen Lawrence to give young black artists a platform. I am a member of UNESCO Coalition of Artists for the General History of Africa. I am a member of Nawi Collective, an all-woman/ femmes/ non-binary singing group singing for freedom and justice.

Dawn Mary Toner

I am a multi-disciplinary artist, I work with different art forms including Painting, textiles, photography, make-up, costume, comedy and performance. 

I love painting, and use it as a form of therapy, exploring subjects that are sometimes uncomfortable, but help me to process my life experiences, such as sexual and emotional abuse, fascism and mental health.

Sewing and textiles is another strong passion of mine, I get a lot of joy from planning and creating costumes for performance artists and clowns from Zoinks! Sideshows, that I work alongside at festivals such as Glastonbury and Boomtown. I also do signwriting and make-up for these events. I particularly enjoy collaborating with performers to help them achieve a look and character that helps them to express themselves and give them confidence. 

Zoinks! Sideshows continues old traditions of traveling show people, creating sideshow games that are immersive art pieces designed to delight and entertain audiences and have a range of themes and stories, from the purely absurd (POP the CHIKIN!), environmental (The Tuna Canoe) to social/political (Bash the Fash).