Tony Heaton: altered

24 March – 25 June 2023, Gallery 1
A major solo exhibition by British sculptor and disability rights activist, ‘altered’ produces intelligent and thought-provoking work that is a reflection of the artist’s own lived experience as a disabled person. Join us for the exhibition launch Thursday 23 March, 5pm – 7pm, free for all. To book your place, click here.
Giant coloured mint sculptures across a wooden floor.
Tony Heaton looking at the camera, in front of a marble sculpture he had made of abstract figures sitting together.
Marble sculpture of a abstract figure sitting and thinking with their hand to their face.

altered is a major solo exhibition by British sculptor and disability rights activist, Tony Heaton OBE. The exhibition explores Heaton’s sculptural practice from his early disability rights activism and his initiation of the National Disability Arts Collection and Archive (NDACA), to more recent work that includes direct stone carving and neon text pieces. With wit and self-awareness, Heaton uses a range of materials and techniques to produce intelligent and thought-provoking work that is a reflection of the artist’s own biography.

Attenborough Arts Centre’s presentation of altered follows on from the centre’s 2015 presentation of ‘Art, Life, Activism’, the inaugural exhibition in our new galleries. That exhibition included work by Heaton, notably ‘Gold Lame’ and ‘Shaken Not Stirred, and the artist was an exhibition that included work by Heaton and from which a work, Raspberry Ripple (2019) by the artist was acquired for the Grundy Art Gallery permanent collection.

altered is presented in partnership with Bury Art Museum and Sculpture Centre who have produced a catalogue to accompany the exhibition. The catalogue includes a foreword by Grundy Art Gallery’s Curator, Paulette Brien and texts by Bryan Biggs, Director of Cultural Legacies at the Bluecoat, Liverpool and Allan Sutherland, writer, performer and disability arts activist. The catalogue and a selection of limited edition prints will be available to buy through our shop.

“I am almost always reminded that I am perceived as a disabled person, and much of my work explores my personal analysis of these everyday interactions.”

Outside shot of Gallery 1, including the courtyard.

Furthering Access

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