Nancy Newberry — Articles of Faith

6 February – 22 February 2020

Opening Reception: Thursday 6 February, 6.00pm - 8.00pm

Following on from an exhibition of her work Smoke Bombs and Border Crossings, Dallas-based photographer Nancy Newberry has created a series of new photographic portraits of members of faith communities in Luton and beyond. This is her first UK commission.

In Articles of Faith, Newberry has collaborated with people of all religions in Luton, photographing them wearing the clothes, accessories, icons or symbols that define or acknowledge their faith.  The series, which is inspired by a fascination with the accoutrements of the artist’s own Catholic faith, examines the role that dress and its association with faith plays in defining a person’s identity and how they are received by, and engage with, the world. It alsoreflects Luton’s diversity and the array of different faith communities who live side by side in the town, celebrating the town’s kaleidoscope of cultures and religions.

With an emphasis on costume, uniform, the regalia, rituals and the iconography of belonging, Nancy’s internationally recognised brand of performative photographic portraiture is always bespoke and personal and the result of collaboration with those she photographs.

Nancy Newberry’s work is part of the collection at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Centro de Arte Alcobendas, Spain; and Villa Noailles, Hyères, France. She has received many international awards for her work and has featured prominently in the National Portrait Gallery’s Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize (2012, 2017). For further information on Nancy’s work please visit www.nancynewberry.com.

Location: 64 Bute Street, Luton, LU1 2EY

Departure Lounge’s exhibition programme is delivered in in partnership with The Culture Trust, Luton. The project is supported by Arts Council England.