The Riverside Artists Group is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a major retrospective titled "PULL FOCUS" at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. The exhibition features 48 artworks across various media—including oil paintings, sculptures, and digital prints—by 33 artists, alongside a 30-minute documentary film and an extensive archive of the group's history. Founded in 1986 following an open submission call that drew over 1,000 entrants, the collective has grown from a local community initiative into an international presence.
This milestone highlights the enduring power of grassroots artist collectives and their role in fostering cultural diplomacy. Notably, the group was the first of its kind to participate in a cultural exchange with the Soviet Union during the Cold War in 1988, a feat documented in the exhibition's archival materials. By showcasing four decades of work for free, the event underscores the importance of accessible community art spaces like Riverside Studios in maintaining local creative legacies and international connections.