Date & time
5 - 28 August 2026
12:00 - 17:00
Location
FUSEBOX
2 Bucklands Wharf, Thames Side, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1TF
Getting here
Recommended age
The exhibition features a range of responses to the three themes: Magyck, Matter, and Queer. Some works explore personal stories that visitors may find distressing, and there is also some nudity.
Price
Free
Accessibility
Wheelchair Access
Accessible Toilet
Step Free Access
This large-scale Open Call Exhibition features 70+ artists across three themes: Magyck, Matter, and Queer. The exhibition will unfold across three zones within FUSEBOX, reflecting its spirit as a space that matters, is magical, and is proudly queer-safe. Our aim: to reopen and reconnect FUSEBOX with the local community.
Spanning painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, animation, dance and more, the exhibition brings together a wide range of perspectives, experiences and stories that inspire young and emerging artists today.
This is the first exhibition at FUSEBOX in over a year, following our closure after two devastating flooding incidents. We are delighted to reopen with an exhibition that celebrates our venue as a creative playground, a unique cultural space and a home for our community.
Curated by our Young Creatives, artists were invited to submit work in response to any of the three themes underpinning the exhibition: Matter, Queer, Magyck. Together, these works reflect FUSEBOX as we know it: a space that Matters, a space that is Queer, and a space filled with Magyck.
MATTER is everywhere: from the texture of objects to the things that bring us together. It is physical form, but also presence, impact and meaning. These works interrogate and celebrate matter in all its interpretations. We ask: what matters? Is it texture, weight and structure—or identity, belonging and significance?
QUEER is presented here in all its complexity. Queerness is more than identity; it is a way of seeing, being and creating. It challenges norms, celebrates difference, and reimagines the world through radical self-expression. These works honour the breadth of queer experience and affirm voices that refuse to be silenced.
MAGYCK means different things to different people. It can be found in the beauty of the everyday, in fantasy, illusion and the extraordinary. It is an encounter with the unknown. Whether expressed through culture, folklore, ritual, community, love or nature, these works remind us that Magyck has the power to inspire us all.
Please note
The exhibition features a range of responses to the three themes: Magyck, Matter, and Queer. Some works explore personal stories that visitors may find distressing, and there is also some nudity.
What Makes Us is open from Wednesday 5 August – Friday 28 August, every Wednesday to Friday from 12:00 – 19:00.
There are reduced hours on 13 – 14 August when the venue will be open 16:00 – 19:00.
This exhibition was developed by Creative Youth’s panel of Young Creatives. We would like to thank our 2025-2026 Cohort for bringing What Makes Us to life: Joe Coombes-Berry, Keitija Lismane, Loui Bryant, Ruth Mbu, Savannah-Raé Gordon, Steph Ward, Thea Melton.
Exhibiting Artists:
Ahlam Ahmadi
Aleksandra Bialkowska
Asha Bamra
Bethany Grigsby
Catherine McColgan
Chase Nenner
Danilo Zocatelli Cesco
Danlin Lee
Denis Colebourne
Emily McGhie Jackson
Faris Nakamura
ITCH Dance
Iyesogie Ogieriakhi
Jade Johnson
Jadie Maitland
Lakshya Singla
Lechen Zheng
Liv Harris
Lucy Sagar
Lulu Weide
Maggie Davies
Mariia Yarchevska
Mya Fraser
Naomi Langan
Nico Giannoulis
Puikeih Lam
Plenitude APG
Rhys Malpeli
Samantha Naomi Da Costa
Sayaka Asai
Sharon Lin
Sonia White
Soumya Agarwal
Van Toetsenbord
Veronika Wielach
Vika Lobatsevich
Vivian Su
Curatorial Team:
Archie O’Neill
Charlotte Levy
Daniel Cartlidge
Louis Bryant
Steph Ward
Steve Vearncombe
With thanks to Arts Council England for funding this exhibition and forthcoming Artist Residencies.