Future50
In November 2008, Axis launched Future50, a selling exhibition showcasing the work of 50 Axis artists at Project Space Leeds.
It marked a first step into the art market, aiming to create opportunities for collectors outside London to discover and purchase new work.
Curated by Ceri Hand and Liz Aston, the exhibition featured a diverse range of practices, from painting and sculpture to film and installation.
Reflecting on the experience, Ceri said:
Axis hosts an amazing range of brilliant artists and has become a really useful resource, not just for artists but for curators and producers too. I was delighted to curate Future50, as it allowed me to discover new artists and reconnect with others' more recent work.
Despite coinciding with the economic crisis, Future50 successfully raised the profile of participating artists and generated significant interest in their work.
While this remains a unique chapter in Axis’s history, it reflected our commitment to supporting artists and broadening access to contemporary art across the UK.
The Future50 Artists
Future50 featured a diverse group of 50 Axis artists, showcasing a wide range of contemporary art practices. The selected artists were:
Pio Abad, Edward Ashton, Stuart Bailes, Chris Barr, Catherine Bertola, Miranda Blennerhassett, Emma Bolland, Mel Brimfield, Tereza Buskova, Rachel Cattle, Petros Chrisostomou, Emily Cole, Martyn Cross, Nick Crowe, Fiona Curran, Andy Denzler, Samantha Donnelly, Tracey Eastham, James Evans, Erica Eyres, Ian Gonczarow, Rachel Goodyear, S Mark Gubb, Anthea Hamilton, Lia Anna Hennig, Hideko Inoue, Candice Jacobs, Jesus Jimenez, Doug Jones, Penny Klepuszewska, Simon Le Ruez, Rebecca Lennon, Bob Levene, Hayley Lock, Jo McGonigal, Paul Merrick, Heather & Ivan Morison, Yuko Nasu, Robert Orchardson, Katie Orton, Olivia Plender, Ian Rawlinson, David Sherry, Sarah Staton, Rebecca Stevenson, Mimei Thompson, Rachel Thorlby, Miranda Whall, Katy Woods, Frances Young.
