Convergence

The David Collins Foundation was created in 2016 to commemorate the late David Collins, his work, his passion for the arts, his love of beauty, and his ever-curious mindset for all things innovative and new. Through its partnership with The Arts Foundation, The Foundation has supported talented artists and designers across a range of artistic mediums, allowing them space to focus on the development of their practice since 2017. The exhibition, Convergence, curated by broadcaster, author and journalist Ellen E. Jones celebrates the work of eleven artists supported through this partnership between the two foundations. Taking place in the fortieth year of David Collins Studio, the exhibition also reflects on the enduring influence of Collins’ creative vision and his commitment to nurturing talent. The exhibition features a multi-media presentation by artists Ayo Akingbade and Savinder Bual, designers Aura Murillo, Louise Lenborg Skajem and Jochen Holz, Max Frommeld and TK Hay, poets Ella Frears and Will Harris, and filmmakers Cherish Oteka and Onyeka Igwe. The works presented showcase a broad spectrum of contemporary arts practice and Jones’s curation creates a dialogue across generations and disciplines, reflecting on legacy while drawing out the connections and creative possibilities between the works in the present. Convergence has been designed by the London-based studio Bibliothèque Design and will be held at The Lavery, South Kensington, as part of London Design Festival 2025 and Brompton Design District. Ellen E. Jones, exhibition curator, says: “I see my role as curator as something akin to a host or facilitator, entrusted with helping to bring together a group of extraordinary guests for a moment of shared connection. In this imagined gathering, the guests are the works themselves, each one representing an artist the late David Collins once met, admired, and was moved by. My hope is to arrange them so that a conversation begins to take place, until the room feels alive with connection.” Iain Watson, Chair of The David Collins Foundation and CEO of David Collins Studio, says: “Convergence reflects the spirit of The David Collins Foundation over the past eight years - supporting artists and designers across varied disciplines in partnership with The Arts Foundation. In this, The Studio’s 40th anniversary year, the exhibition feels a particularly meaningful way to celebrate David’s memory and the legacy of curiosity and cultural passion that continues to guide us. We are thrilled to have Ellen E. Jones curate this body of work, uniting diverse narratives and creative mediums into a powerful collective story.” Mary Jane Edwards, Director of The Arts Foundation, says: “Convergence is a powerful reflection of what can happen when artists are given the time and space to develop their vision. Our long-term partnership with The David Collins Foundation has allowed us to nurture extraordinary talent across disciplines, and this exhibition is a celebration not only of their artistic practice but of David Collins’ enduring spirit of creativity, curiosity and generosity. We are honoured to continue our shared commitment to supporting artists at such a vital stage in their careers with The David Collins Foundation.”