Celebrating art in the city w / Mahnoor Sapara
Celebrating art in any city often involves a variety of public art installations, exhibitions, and events.
Public art can transform ordinary spaces into vibrant cultural hubs, fostering community engagement and a sense of identity.
It sparks conversation and tells stories — of history, of change, of who we are and who we’re becoming.
Enriching the urban landscape and wider community with beauty, meaning & sometimes, a bit of joyful disruption.
With its rich industrial roots and ever-evolving cultural scene, Birmingham, is no exception but celebrating art in a city is about more than galleries and institutions — it’s about opening doors, sharing stories, and making creativity part of everyday life.
Across Birmingham, public art installations, murals, exhibitions, and creative events are transforming familiar streets into places of connection and culture.
Spaces and places such as The MAC, Eastside Projects, Centrala, Stryx, Ikon Gallery, Birmigham Museum & Art Gallery and not to mention The Glaze Room — offering a pottery painting creative enviroment for many.
These initiatives don’t just beautify spaces — they build community. They invite us to pause, look closer, and engage with the voices shaping the city around us.
And that’s the spirit of Birmingham Open Studios — a city-wide event where local artists open their doors — literally — to the public.
Whether they’re based in professional studios, cafés, community spaces, or even their own homes, artists from across the city invite you inside to view, discuss, and purchase their work.
It’s a unique opportunity to experience the creative process up close, meet the people behind the art, and explore the diverse artistic voices that make Birmingham such a dynamic cultural city.
Whether you're an art lover, a curious newcomer, or someone just looking for a new way to experience the city — this is your invitation to step inside the creative process.
Expect vibrant paintings, thought-provoking installations, sculpture, photography, and works that challenge how we see the world around us. Artist meet-and-greets. Pop-up talks. And plenty of moments that make you stop, smile, and think.
Special Guest Artist / Mahnoor Sapara
This year, as part of the Open Studios programme, we’re especially proud to be hosting Mahnoor Sapara in-house throughout the exhibition.
Known for her evocative work exploring memory, identity, and place, Mahnoor brings a unique perspective shaped by both personal experience and broader cultural themes.
Her pieces often weave personal history with collective narratives, drawing inspiration from lived experience, diaspora, and the often-blurred lines between place and self.
Working across both traditional and contemporary media, Mahnoor’s art creates space for reflection — sometimes bold, sometimes quiet, always deeply resonant.
During the exhibition, visitors will not only have the opportunity to view her work but also to meet Mahnoor, hear about her process, and engage in conversation about the themes she brings to life through her practice.
Whether you’re familiar with her work or encountering it for the first time, Mahnoor's presence at the exhibition adds an exciting and personal dimension to this year’s open studio programme.
Unit Fifteen Kenyon Street | Jewellery Quarter
Weekends of 20th - 21st / 27 - 28th September