What does it mean to take up space — to leave a trace, to reach outward, to say: I’m here and this matters?

Gesture is the first exhibition from the Resilient Artist Cohort, an artist-led development programme from Aire Place Studios that centres radical care, collective agency and creative risk. This isn’t about perfection or polish. It’s about process, autonomy and power — shifting who gets to speak, who gets seen, and who shapes the future of culture in Leeds.

Over the course of twelve months, the cohort is engaging in mentoring, peer learning, hands-on curatorial work and critical dialogue. Together, they’re co-creating a different model for artist development, one that’s not about competition or careerism, but about support, self-determination and doing things differently.

Gesture is the first public moment in that journey and it’s deliberately alive, in progress, open-ended. Taking its title from the act of making, the sweep of a hand, the beginning of an idea, the moment before movement,  the exhibition features new work by six dynamic Leeds based artists. 

Through ongoing dialogue and collaboration, the artists began to notice shared themes emerging , across mediums and methods, ideas surfaced around the body, mark-making, memory, and gesture as both signal and action. The result is a show that doesn’t just display work, but holds space for experimentation, intention and collective thinking.

“Being part of the cohort has given me a new perspective on my practice,” says Jamie. “I usually begin with abstract sketches before painting or drawing figures. This process helped me realise those early marks aren’t just planning they’re part of the voice.” “I’m always curious about how other artists think and work,” adds Christina. “Collaborating like this has been incredibly insightful. It’s opened up new conversations and shifted how I see my own work.”

There is no single curatorial theme, no fixed narrative. Instead, Gesture invites you into an evolving conversation. It’s a space where artists are curating on their own terms, where intention meets risk, and where the work is allowed to breathe. Rather than a traditional group show, this is a live experiment — a powerful moment of visibility, authorship, and shared momentum.

The final exhibition in March 2026 will build on the groundwork laid here, showcasing new work shaped by deeper mentoring and collaboration with curators. By then, the cohort will have co-curated two public exhibitions, developed leadership experience, and cultivated the skills to shape their practices, and their audiences, with clarity, confidence and care. 

The Resilient Artist Cohort was born from the urgent demands we heard through Let Us See You and The People’s Gallery that artists need time, trust, and agency. One participant put it plainly: “We’re tired of knocking on doors that never open.” So we stopped knocking. We built our own.“It’s not just about the art,” says APS Director Sarah Francis. “It’s about who gets to shape the system. With this cohort, we’re not waiting for the door to open, we're building something better, from the ground up.”

Gesture is an invitation into that space. A space for listening, questioning, risk-taking and connection. A space to witness artists in motion, and to join a growing movement rooted in care, resistance and radical imagination.

This isn’t a showcase.

It’s a signal.