Joy Gregory: Catching Flies with Honey

Arnolfini presents a landmark exhibition celebrating Joy Gregory's pioneering practice. Opening Bristol Photo Festival 2026 with one of its major headline exhibitions, the exhibition brings together more than 150 photographs, films, installations and textile works spanning four decades. It invites you to discover a practice that has continually redefined the possibilities of photography. Since the early 1980s, Gregory has challenged expectations of both photography and what Black or feminist art should look like. Working across historic photographic processes, digital media, performance and textiles, her work explores identity, beauty, history and belonging through images that are visually rich, materially inventive and deeply human. Featured works include Autoportrait (1989 -1990, printed 2024), Language of Flowers (1986-2004), and 'Eyelash' from Objects of Beauty (1992-1995). The exhibition was originated by Whitechapel Gallery, London, where it was first shown (8 October 2025 - 1 March 2026) with the subsequent tour organised in collaboration with Arnolfini, Bristol. Joy Gregory: Catching Flies with Honey has been generously supported by Freelands Foundation.