Michaela Yearwood-Dan has unveiled her first major UK institutional exhibition, 'The Practice of Liberation,' at the Whitworth. The immersive installation integrates fourteen new paintings with ceramic vessels and soundscapes, reimagining traditional religious motifs through a contemporary, secular lens. By deconstructing elements like stained glass and the Stations of the Cross into abstract forms, the artist creates a sanctuary that explores themes of ritual, memory, and personal identity.
This exhibition marks a significant milestone in Yearwood-Dan’s career, transitioning her vibrant painterly language into a multidisciplinary institutional scale. By engaging with the philosophies of James Baldwin and bell hooks, the work positions the act of liberation as a continuous, iterative process rather than a final destination. The show highlights the Whitworth’s commitment to providing a platform for artists who challenge inherited historical narratives through intimate and politically resonant gestures.