Artlink Hull | 87 Gallery has announced its latest exhibition, Bodies Showing Power, by London-based visual artist Nancy Clayton, running from 17th July to 12th September 2026.
Developed in partnership with Intoart, one of the UK’s leading visual arts organisations championing learning disabled and autistic artists, the exhibition brings an ambitious new installation to Hull that explores Disability, collaboration and creative resistance.
Clayton’s large-scale drawings, paintings and installations are informed by her experience and observation of the body in motion. Working collaboratively with other Disabled artists, including dancer Sophia Moore and writer, researcher and activist Paul Christian, she creates expressive figurative works that celebrate joy, strength and shared experience while challenging traditional representations of Disability within contemporary art.
At the heart of the exhibition is a reconstructed studio environment, where naturally dyed textiles are suspended on floor-to-ceiling structures to create an immersive space. Through drawing, painting, film and photography, fleeting movements of the Disabled body are transformed into powerful images. A leg supported by mobility aids, hands gripping a lectern during a passionate speech, and an exuberant double-legged kick become monumental symbols of resilience, expression and possibility.
Clayton’s commitment to sustainability is woven throughout the exhibition. Botanical dye techniques, natural paints and carefully considered materials reflect her belief that caring for people and caring for the environment are intrinsically connected. Together, the works imagine more equitable futures where biodiversity, community and creativity are valued equally.
Lindsey Alvis, Creative Director and CEO of Artlink | 87 Gallery, said: “Bodies Showing Power is an incredibly important exhibition that places Disabled artists and lived experience at its centre. Nancy’s work is ambitious and deeply collaborative, inviting audiences to reconsider assumptions around power, representation and creativity. We are delighted to be working alongside Intoart to bring this significant exhibition to Hull and continue Artlink’s commitment to presenting artists who are shaping conversations nationally”
Founded in 2000, Intoart is a pioneering visual arts organisation committed to equity, visibility and social justice, led by the creative ambition of learning disabled and autistic artists and designers. Based in Peckham, South London, Intoart has spent 25 years creating opportunities with artists through commissions, collaborations and major exhibitions in museums, galleries and public spaces across the UK and internationally.
Speaking about her work, Nancy Clayton said: “Disability representation is very important in my work. I want people to know that Disabled people can be artists. Art can change society; if you’ve got a good imagination, art can be powerful. For me it’s about working with people who enjoy your work and breaking boundaries together. Caring about the people and the materials I work with.”
Bodies Showing Power invites visitors into a maze of vibrant textiles, expressive drawings and moving images that celebrate collective creativity and Disability justice. Rather than presenting polished perfection, Clayton embraces visible processes, rough edges and shared experience to reveal what it means to build equitable futures together.
The exhibition runs at Artlink Hull | 87 Gallery from 17th July to 12th September 2026
Opening times: Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 4.30pm
Venue: Artlink Hull | 87 Gallery, 87 Princes Avenue, Hull, HU5 3QP