ORDER CHAOS HARMONY - Kim Hubball, Mill 2 Gallery, 6 - 27 March 2026

1853 Studios was thrilled to present this solo exhibition by Kim Hubball in 1853 Studios Mill 2 Gallery. Kim has been a resident of 1853 Studios since it’s inception, so this was an incredibly significant moment for both Kim and the studios.

Kim’s practice has always been defined by an instinctive, non-verbal dialogue with her materials. During this show, she described her process as ‘following a thread that’s not sure of where it’s going’, allowing the work to dictate its own destination through bold shapes, collage, and spontaneous mark-making.

In this particular body of work, abstraction functioned as both an invitation and a shield. By ‘covering up what I am with shapes’, Kim created a sanctuary where she could decide what to reveal and what to conceal; after all, ‘how can a shape be wrong?’

The resulting exhibition was bold and courageous, balanced by subtle undercurrents of reflection and a search for peace amidst the madness. The show also marked a significant new direction for the artist, featuring both 2D and 3D works. Most notable were the vibrant rope sculptures, which represented the tension between repetitive order and the chaos of unravelling threads, while acknowledging the bleak history of the cotton industry that once thrived in the very building housing the show.

Ultimately, the exhibition offered a space for questioning, but it was, above all, a joyful and playful celebration of Kim’s love of making: a passion that continues to guide and enrich her daily life.

Follow more of Kim’s work via her instagram here

This exhibition was supported using public funding from National Lottery through Arts Council England.