87 Gallery | Artlink Hull has announced its latest exhibition, Deep Unknowns, by Hull-based artist Maria Donnai, running from 24th January to 11th April 2026.
Based in Hull, Maria Donnai is an artist whose practice is deeply informed by a background in the veterinary sector. Her work centres on sculpture and installation, primarily using ceramic and glass, and reflects ongoing concerns around care, conservation, and species extinction. By working with fragile materials, Maria encourages reflection on the vulnerability of life and the responsibility humans hold toward the natural world.
Deep Unknowns explores marine ecosystems through detailed research and making. Maria begins each body of work with meticulous pencil studies, developing an intimate understanding of her subjects before translating them into palm-sized sculptural forms. For this exhibition, her research has focused on seaweed, shells, and sponges, which are reimagined through experimental sculpting, glazing, firing, and glass casting techniques, including pâte de verre. Each object is then carefully sanded and handled, re-establishing a physical connection that imbues the work with a sense of care and stewardship.
Seaweed was an early influence and remains the most recognisable form in this body of work. With approximately 650 species found in UK waters alone, seaweed plays a vital role in carbon absorption and climate regulation. Donnai’s work invites viewers to pause and appreciate the beauty and diversity of these often-overlooked organisms found along our coastlines.
“Maria Donnai’s work speaks powerfully to the values at the heart of 87 Gallery | Artlink Hull” said Lindsey Alvis, Creative Director and CEO of Artlink | 87 Gallery. “Deep Unknowns is a thoughtful and compelling exploration of care, fragility, and interconnectedness. We are proud to support an artist whose practice brings together scientific curiosity, emotional sensitivity, and a deep respect for the natural world.”
Becky Gee, Curator at 87 Gallery, added: “Maria’s approach to making is rooted in attentiveness and empathy. Through material experimentation and careful, considered processes, Deep Unknowns invites audiences to reflect on biodiversity, symbiosis, and the small yet essential components that allow ecosystems to thrive.”
Much of the ocean floor remains unexplored, with an estimated 80% of our seas still unknown. This sense of mystery has led Donnai to fictionalise and speculate on what might exist beneath the surface. In Deep Unknowns, hybrid porcelain-glass marine creatures are presented as both sculptural works and a suspended installation, bringing together many individual elements to form a cohesive whole. The combination of materials references symbiosis, long-term, mutually beneficial relationships between species, reinforcing the idea that biodiversity is essential for nature’s survival.
Speaking about the exhibition, Maria Donnai said: “Deep Unknowns is about care for materials, for process, and ultimately for the natural world. By imagining what lies beyond our understanding of the ocean, I hope to encourage a sense of wonder and responsibility for fragile, complex forms of life that exist beyond our immediate comprehension.”
As part of her commission, Maria worked on site at 87 Gallery with Misc. Print Co. to produce a series of experimental, limited-edition screen prints responding to the themes explored in the exhibition. The prints will be available to purchase in person at 87 Gallery and online at 87.co.uk.
The exhibition will launch to the public on Friday 23rd January 2026, 6pm-8pm, including a quiet hour from 5pm-6pm. Maria will also lead an exclusive tour of the exhibition on Saturday 24th January, 12noon-1pm.
87 Gallery is a welcoming and inclusive free-to-access gallery in the heart of HU5 with relaxed seating and free self-led colouring activities for children, young people and adults alike.
Deep Unknowns runs at 87 Gallery, Artlink Hull, from 24th January to 11th April 2026.
Opening times: Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 4:30pm
Address: 87 Princes Avenue, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU5 3QP