Emerge! At RHND

A Celebration of Artists with Neuro-disability at RHND

EMERGE! is a multi-room exhibition I curated for the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability as part of Wandsworth Arts Fringe, celebrating the extraordinary creativity of artists living with neuro-disabilities. The exhibition showcased over 200 pieces of artworks created using traditional techniques alongside adaptive technologies such as eye-gaze drawing systems and modified tools, offering the public a rare insight into the innovative processes behind the work.

When I first visited the RHND Art Room, I felt an unexpected and overwhelming sense of joy. The room radiates colour, care and experimentation — a true sanctuary for making. My curatorial approach focused on one guiding question: how do we turn “stuff” into story?

Through three carefully curated rooms — exploring how the work is made, what is created, and where creativity flourishes — EMERGE! invited visitors to witness not only the art, but the determination, ingenuity and humanity behind it.

The Creative Process

1. The De Lancey Lowe Room — HOW

This space showcased the technologies and processes through which RHND artists create. From EnaBall’s wheelchair adaptation to specialised adaptive tools, visitors witnessed the ingenuity behind the work. Large-scale pieces displayed here reflected the physicality and experimentation that define making at the RHND.

2. The Assembly Room — WHAT

This room celebrated the artworks themselves: ceramics, paintings, collages, stained glass and mixed-media pieces created by artists living with neuro-disabilities. Presenting this work with the same respect and intentionality as any contemporary art exhibition was vital — a clear statement about artistic excellence, not sympathy.

3. The Art Room — WHERE

The beating heart of RHN. Instead of transforming it, we chose to honour it exactly as it is — full of colour, texture, materials and daily making. This room allowed visitors to step into the artists’ world, to witness the community, the joy and the quiet determination that fuel their practice.

The Private View

The private view was a highlight: full of warmth, curiosity and celebration, with speeches from the Deputy Mayor of Wandsworth,  Councillor Rosemary Birchall, myself, and the dedicated facilitators who animate the Art Room every day.

Co-Design

Although I curated the exhibition; EMERGE! was built on deep collaboration. Working closely with art facilitators, technicians, volunteers and RHND artists allowed the show to reflect a collective voice. The goal was not to speak for the artists, but to create structures in which their voices could be fully seen and heard.