Plymouth Contemporary 2021

About us

A biennial exhibition showcasing emerging and established contemporary artists.

The Plymouth Contemporary 2021 is an open submission exhibition showcasing both emerging and established artists working nationally and internationally. This, the third Plymouth Contemporary exhibition brought to you by The Arts Institute, The Box and KARST, continues to support new ideas and a risk-taking approach across all art forms with previously featured artists going on to achieve national and international success.

The exhibition will run from 7 July to 5 September 2021 across The Levinsky Gallery, University of Plymouth and KARST, featuring work by contemporary visual artists working in a range of mediums.

Selected artists:

Camilla Alberti, Chris Alton, Bridgette Ashton, Bruce Asbestos, Kelly Best (and Herbivore), Harriet Bowman, Caroline Bugby, Gordon Dalton, Kez Dearmer, Stephanie Douet, Nick Ervinck, Rosalind Faram, Damian Griffiths, Andy Harper, Sadie Hennessy, Will Hughes, Seungjo Jeong, Dean Knight, Molly Erin McCarthy, Charlotte McGuinness, James Moore, Paula Morison, Sang-Mi Rha, Janet Sainsbury, Anna Chrystal Stephens, Jennifer Taylor, Marianne Walker, Kate Williams and K. Yoland.

This year's theme is 'Making It'. What does 'Making It' mean in 2021? The act of making, whether moulding and shaping an idea or a physical artwork, often involves failure, breaking, resistance, serendipity and ingenuity – all of which intertwine and overlap as part of the making process.

Similarly, what does it mean to 'make it' as an artist today? From making a difference, activism and DIY culture, to challenging the idea of success and accomplishment, or even overturning traditional notions of presentation and engagement. Plymouth Contemporary invites artists to open up, interrogate, unpick and shake out what 'Making It' might mean in terms of contemporary art practice in 2021.