Abstract
Phantasmagorey was a group exhibition held at Custom House Gallery in Leith from 20–26 February 2025. The exhibition marked the centenary of Edward Gorey (1925–2000), the celebrated American illustrator and writer whose wry humour, gothic sensibility, and distinctive drawing style have had a lasting influence on generations of artists. Officially endorsed by the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust, the exhibition formed part of the international programme of events celebrating Gorey’s 100th anniversary.
Curated by RCA graduates Andrew Baker and Linda Hughes—both active practitioners, with Hughes’ animated short Fairground Fever premiering at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2024—the exhibition brought together work by more than forty artists from across the UK. Each contribution responded to aspects of Gorey’s prolific output, which includes over one hundred illustrated books such as The Gashlycrumb Tinies, his iconic A–Z of untimely deaths. The curators framed the exhibition around Gorey’s dark wit, theatricality, and highly cultivated sense of the absurd, qualities that continue to resonate strongly within contemporary visual culture.
My contribution of two new wall based pieces engaged directly with this curatorial context, exploring the interplay between material surfaces and the uncanny. Exhibiting within Custom House—a Georgian waterfront building now operating as a cultural and community hub—allowed the work to develop new spatial and historical resonances. The architectural character of the site, combined with the collective energy of over forty artists working in illustration, animation, and object-based practices, provided a rich environment for rethinking how narrative-driven work can function within a contemporary reinterpretation of Gorey’s legacy.
Being part of Phantasmagorey offered an opportunity to situate my practice within an expanded dialogue about storytelling, humour, and the gothic in visual art, while contributing to a significant centenary celebration of an artist whose influence continues to shape the field.
Curated by RCA graduates Andrew Baker and Linda Hughes—both active practitioners, with Hughes’ animated short Fairground Fever premiering at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2024—the exhibition brought together work by more than forty artists from across the UK. Each contribution responded to aspects of Gorey’s prolific output, which includes over one hundred illustrated books such as The Gashlycrumb Tinies, his iconic A–Z of untimely deaths. The curators framed the exhibition around Gorey’s dark wit, theatricality, and highly cultivated sense of the absurd, qualities that continue to resonate strongly within contemporary visual culture.
My contribution of two new wall based pieces engaged directly with this curatorial context, exploring the interplay between material surfaces and the uncanny. Exhibiting within Custom House—a Georgian waterfront building now operating as a cultural and community hub—allowed the work to develop new spatial and historical resonances. The architectural character of the site, combined with the collective energy of over forty artists working in illustration, animation, and object-based practices, provided a rich environment for rethinking how narrative-driven work can function within a contemporary reinterpretation of Gorey’s legacy.
Being part of Phantasmagorey offered an opportunity to situate my practice within an expanded dialogue about storytelling, humour, and the gothic in visual art, while contributing to a significant centenary celebration of an artist whose influence continues to shape the field.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Leith, UK |
| Publisher | Customs House Gallery |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Feb 2025 |