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Public Open Exhibition 2026

3 July – 11 September 2026

Our 2026 Public Open Exhibition showcases amazing, unique work by disabled contemporary visual artists from across the UK. After an open call out earlier this year, selected pieces were shortlisted by a panel of industry professionals to be part of the exhibition at LEVEL Centre over the summer, running from 3 July – 11 September 2026.

Now into its sixth year, the Public Open Exhibition received a record number of submissions. The standard was outstanding, showcasing a broad range of art styles and techniques. The panel has selected two pieces to win first and second prize in the 18 and Over category, along with winners in the 12-17 and 7-11 categories. The winners were announced at 12 noon on 3 July – scroll down to find out more!

But who will win the People’s Choice Award? You can vote for your favourite artwork below, or visit the centre to see the exhibition in person and vote during your visit. The work with the most votes will win a fantastic bundle of art supplies from our generous sponsor Turners Arts Supplies. Voting opens 3 July until 5pm on 11 September.

18 and Over Category

A photograph. Viewed from above, two hands gently hold a white pasta bowl filled with alphabet soup. The image has a warm, soft-focus quality with golden lighting. Scattered pasta letters float in the reddish-orange tomato sauce, but in the middle the letters are carefully arranged to form the message: “IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT.” The bowl sits against a pale wooden surface of a table, and faint tattoos are visible near both wrists.

First Place:
‘It’s not your fault’ (photography)
by Dee Elegia

‘It’s not your fault’ is part of a self-portrait project where the artist reflects on their neurodivergence and disabilities. The piece addresses themes of guilt, self-blame, trauma, and mental health. By spelling the phrase out of the same chaotic letters surrounding it, the image implies that supportive truths can be difficult to recognise when someone is overwhelmed, yet they are still present and meaningful. Alphabet soup is often associated with childhood and comfort, evoking vulnerability, care, and healing.

Dee says: “I’m so thrilled to have won first place in LEVEL’s Public Open Exhibition 2026. It’s incredibly unexpected, but encouraging to know that my piece has connected with people and the recognition gives me a renewed confidence and motivation to continue experimenting in my practice. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share it with such a wide audience. The prize will also provide valuable support for future projects, allowing me to continue exploring and developing my work.”

This image is built up from different colours in soft pastel, watercolour crayon and graphite on paper. The graphite is mainly contained in the top centre as a base layer, and is a series of frenzied marks lapping over one another in a dark charcoal grey. The watercolour crayon is bottom right in dark forest green and milk chocolate brown, in a series again overlapped and shaded together closely. A white crayon features as the top layer on the top right in a scribble type look, but done quickly. The soft pastel is in patches across the rest of the image, and the paper can be seen regularly across the work. Bottom left is a chocolate brown, burnt orange and deep pink, purple pastel layered in strokes, mid blue on mid left and softer brown above this. Top right is dark brown, mustard yellow and forest green layered.

Second Place:
‘Untitled (CS17)’ (pastel)
by Candice Swallow

Candice works on a gummed pad of cartridge paper. She holds the paper firmly with one hand and turns it as she works on each piece. Candice asks for different colours to the staff that support her and feels the different materials to choose which she wants to use that day.

Creating art brings Candice much joy – she does not talk about concepts for her work, as it is purely about the process for her. Being blind and learning disabled, Candice very much likes creating alongside her friends at The pARTnership studio in Blackpool, asking for different colours as and when she needs them.

Feedback: “Candice excitedly said it felt alright to have won! And that she was going to tell everyone later. And that it felt nice. Her gallerist and the studio that she attends are over the moon that Candice has received this recognition for her beautiful drawings.“

12-17 Category

A piece of art inspired by Andy Warholl's flowers prints. A green background. The artist used a scraper to paint pre-prepared flowers and then attached these to the background using glue.

Winner:
‘Warholl flowers’ (mixed media)
by Georgia

Georgia created a piece of art inspired by Andy Warholl’s flowers prints. She created a back ground, used a scraper to paint pre-prepared flowers and then attached these to her background using glue.

7-11 Category

A pale background with an abstract pattern in blue, purple and red. There are handprints, splodges and wavy lines in the image. It is created using rollers to make repeat patterns, some with string wrapped around the tubes to create a wavy pattern when rolled.

Winner:
‘Roll Repeat Pattern No. 14’ (Paint on canvas)
by Conker Class, Alfreton Park School

“This is a collaborative piece at the end of project looking at using rollers and making repeat patterns. We loved the rollers, especially the two handled exercise one, and choose our own colours using our preferred communication method. Some of us used string to wrap around the tubes to create a pattern when rolled.”

Panel Highlights

“’It’s not your fault’ stood out to me the first time I saw it. The naivety of the materials used alongside the power of the message behind it. Seeing analogue photography is rare in our call outs and Dee’s piece is a worthy winner for our Public Open Exhibition for 2026. Congratulations Dee!

Candice’s artwork really stayed with me after our first round of voting. It really evokes a feeling of depth and emotion that is hard to describe. The more times I saw it, the more I loved it. I am so pleased that the panel felt the same.

In the 12-17 category, Georgia’s depiction of ‘Warholl Flowers’ is so beautiful, you could imagine laying out on a bed of grass with these vibrant flowers blooming all around you. Well done Georgia.

Finally the collaborative piece from Conker Class in the 7-11 category shows so much movement and texture, what a wonderfully creative mark making technique, your teacher must be very proud!”

Lucy Barnes

LEVEL - Exhibitions and Residencies Manager

“I’m so thankful and feel privileged to have been part of the panel. There were so many strong submissions and I loved seeing everyone’s work.

I was thrilled to discover Georgia’s beautiful piece ‘Warholl flowers’. A gorgeous and skilled depiction of flowers that remind me of beautiful daisy flowers I have loved since childhood. I hope Georgia continues to create and share her art with the world, they certainly are very talented. Congratulations!”

Corinne

Disabled Artist and Photographer

“Shortlisting the entries was a delightful way to spend a few days. I was impressed by the variety of work from ceramics to textiles from the gritty realism of photography to abstract beauty of colour. The abundance of talent and creativity across all our entrants was a joy to see and often times I would open a file and exclaim ‘Oh wow’ out loud (undoubtedly much to the frustration of my colleagues in the office!).

There was much debate amongst the panellists in selecting the shortlisted artists. I think our four winners represent the artists whose work made us look twice, inspired a debate or made us think again about our assumptions.”

Elizabeth Woledge

LEVEL - Director

“I was very happy to be picked as the first youth panel member. It was fun to look through all the artwork as there were lots of different pieces in lots of different mediums.

I liked that our 18 and over winner ‘It’s not your fault’ was photography which made it a bit different from most of the others. The glowing look to the photo feels like a blurry dream. I also like the fact that it is Alphabetti Spaghetti which is a lot of fun!“

Edith

Youth Panel Member

People’s Choice Award

Our Open Exhibition prize winners may have been decided but you can still vote for your favourite piece in The People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Turners Arts Supplies!

You can vote by visiting the exhibition in person at LEVEL or online below until 5pm on 11 September. Voting is open now.

Please only vote once for your favourite piece.