Wandsworth’s newest gallery and artist studios opens its first public exhibition with work by Dale Holmes.

WIP Space opened in Summer 2023 following the transformation of a former council office building into a brand-new set of artist studios. Now the studios are hosting their very first exhibition, giving the public a chance to step inside for the first time.

Created with support from Wandsworth Borough Council and other arts and culture partners, WIP Space supports both the creative industries and the local community by providing affordable studio space for creative sole traders and businesses, and offering the space to programme talks, events and exhibitions.

Founded by artist Mark Nader, WIP Space is housed in Wentworth House, a former council- run building in Wandsworth Town, and originally home to the Wentworth family, who made beam engines in the 19^th century. Wentworth House has 16 studios of different sizes and architectural styles to suit a range of creative practices. Currently, 11 spaces are open and in use with the remaining 5 to fully open in 2024.

WIP Space’s first exhibition is curated by Kirsten Cooke, showing work by Dale Homes. A picture painter working mainly with images and stories from medieval painting, metal culture, horror and folklore, Dale Holmes makes works that inhabit the tensions between picture and painting, drawing and surface, gesture and facture, narrative and distortion. He looks for the points at which they collapse in on each other, slip between and spill out through the handling of materials in the studio. This he extends into display contexts and previous exhibitions have taken place over an afternoon on the chain link fence surrounding a tennis court, for one evening as a back cloth for a band to perform with, and as a weekend long pop up in a gallery.

Dale Holmes: Welcome to Ratcatcher’s Song and Dance Plague Band for Good Dogs is on at Steam Works Gallery (WIP Space Studios) until 19 November 2023. Open Thursdays and Fridays 12pm – 6pm, and by appointment.

Mark Nader, WIP Space Founder, says: “It’s a brilliant milestone for Wentworth House and WIP Space to begin opening up to the local area. Dale’s fantastic exhibition was a brilliant curatorial decision from Kirsten Cooke, utilising the space to its full potential. We are excited about 2024 when we open up 5 more studio spaces, our project space and studio residency spaces; further expanding both our studio provision and public programming.”

Cllr Akinola, Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council says: “Wentworth House has been given a new lease of life by Mark and the team at WIP Space, turning it into a brilliant resource for creatives in the borough. With an array of studio options, a gallery space, and spaces for artist residencies, WIP Space will make a rich contribution to the professional development of artists, and to the cultural offer of Wandsworth.”

Information for visitors:

Location: Steam Works, WIP Space Studios, Wentworth House, Dormay Street, London, SW18 1EY

Gallery opening times: 12pm – 6pm Thursday and Friday, and by appointment.

Website: Steam Works gallery

Instagram: @wipspace