Yuki Kihara – Darwin in Paradise Camp, Whitworth Art Gallery
What sounds better than Charles Darwin in drag discussing scientific evidence of sex-changing fish? In Darwin in Paradise Camp, artist Yuki Kihara uses humour to explore the subjects of colonialism and heteronormativity. Through photography and drag sketches, the exhibition invites viewers into Kihara’s queer Indigenous community in Samoa. She confronts the portrayal of the Samoan legacy created by Victorian colonialist art, reclaiming its narratives from an indigenous and queer perspective.
Held at the Whitworth Gallery, only a two minute walk from the university campus, this exhibition is well worth a visit to be introduced to the intersection of colonialism, art, and biology.
Darwin in Paradise Camp runs from 3 October 2025 – 1 March 2026, at Whitworth Art Gallery. Free entry.
Roots in the Sky, HOME
Roots in the Sky is an exhibition of recent artworks by ten contemporary artists from the United States, Europe, and West Africa. Through painting, sculpture, and drawing, the exhibition investigates themes of cultural pluralism, layered identities, and what it means to belong. Curated by British-Nigeran artist Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, whose own artistic practice draws on the ancient history and visual traditions of West Africa, the exhibition tells different stories and perspectives of Black diaspora. By bringing these artworks together, Roots in the Sky celebrates contemporary Black art and encourages a global conversation about cultural heritage and connection in today’s world.
Roots in the Sky runs from 11 October – 25 January 2026 at HOME. Free entry, booking required.
Give us a smile SWEETIE, Black Redstart Gallery
This contemporary exhibit by artist Evita Ziemele explores the experiences of women wounded by the trauma from external factors like misogyny and the patriarchal system. Ziemele captivates the audience with work that intersects between the beautiful, innocent and obscene elements of the female existence. This exhibit goes on to dissect the fetishizations of the divine feminine.
Give us a smile SWEETIE runs from 31 October – 29 November 2025 at Black Redstart Gallery. Free entry, booking not required.
Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風, esea cotemporary
In Smooth Sailing, Marcos Kueh, a textile artist, reflects on his own experiences as a Chinese Malaysian who migrated to the Netherlands, as well as broader histories of the textile industry, trade unions, and migration. For this exhibition, Kueh has worked with the Whitworth’s internationally renowned textile collection and documents from the Manchester People’s History Museum. The exhibition is an immersive installation of large-scale, brightly-coloured textile pieces, embroidered with a mix of traditional motifs and modern elements. Smooth Sailing is visually striking, layered with deeper questions about culture and identity.
Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風 runs from 25 October 2025 – 11 January 2026 at esea cotemporary. Free entry, booking not required.
