When we were unable to host exhibitions inside our building during Covid restrictions in 2021, we teamed up with our long-standing artistic collaborators and curators, City Arts Nottingham, to instead hold our first digital exhibition.

We were delighted that artworks by American artist Susan Spangenberg were curated to form the "Escaping Childhood" online exhibition via the City Arts website.

A visual retrospective and discussion about Susan’s outsider artwork was held with Associate Professor Elvira Perez and the Institute's Head of Communications, Lou Rudkin alongside Kate Duncan from City Arts on June 17^th, exploring the art Susan created in the asylums and The Living Museum New York.

Susan was the first international artist to feature in one of our annual open exhibitions at the Institute a few years ago. ‘Escaping Childhood’ contains brutally honest and true accounts of her lived experience of mental health issues. They continue to inform her creativity to this day.

Susan's artwork was exhibited online until 10^th July 2021 and a recording of the discussion with Susan is now available to view online.

Content Warning

Some artwork in the "Escaping Childhood" exhibition contains ideas and images you might find triggering or traumatising. Themes of abuse, suicide, self-harm and the experience of being sectioned feature. We encourage you to prepare yourself emotionally before proceeding. If you believe looking at the exhibition will be traumatising, then you may choose not to enter.