Nottingham Contemporary has announced plans for the first institutional solo exhibition of British artist Sarah Cunningham, who died in November 2024 at age 31. The show, the largest presentation of her work to date, is scheduled to open next autumn, marking a homecoming for the artist who was born and raised in Nottingham and previously worked as a gallery assistant at the same institution. Cunningham, who graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2022, had her first solo exhibition at Lisson Gallery in 2023 and developed a distinctive abstract style characterized by exaggerated brushwork and extended brushes made from scrap wood.
The exhibition matters because it honors a promising young artist whose career was cut tragically short, while also highlighting the deep connection between Cunningham and her hometown institution where she once worked. The show represents both a posthumous recognition of her significant body of work and a poignant narrative of an artist returning to her roots, underscoring how emerging talents can leave lasting impressions even within a brief career. It also draws attention to the broader challenges faced by young artists balancing multiple jobs while pursuing their practice.