ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Hastings Contemporary Biennial Showcases Over 150 Sussex Artists in Marine-Themed Exhibition

exhibition · 2026-04-02

The Hastings Contemporary Biennial, named The Open: Odyssey, marks its debut with contributions from over 150 artists linked to Sussex, exploring themes such as marine ecology, climate change, migration, and coastal folklore. Curated by Kathleen Soriano, the exhibition attracted more than 2,600 entries. Notable pieces include Alan Patch's installation made from plastic waste and Kevin J J Warren's artwork created from fishing nets. Additional highlights feature Kate Howe's installation, Mandeep Dillon's balloon piece, and Sally Cox's clay pot woman. A dedicated photography section displays work by Roger Clarke and an AI collage by Roger Hopgood. All artworks are available for purchase until 31st May 2026, with prices ranging from hundreds to £140,000, supporting both the artists and the gallery's collaboration with nine primary schools on a year-long initiative.

Key facts

  • Exhibition title: The Open: Odyssey
  • Dates: until 31st May 2026
  • Location: Hastings Contemporary
  • Number of artists: over 150
  • Submissions received: over 2,600
  • Curatorial panel led by: Kathleen Soriano
  • Price range: from hundreds to £140,000
  • Complementary project: Pearls of the Sea with nine primary schools

Entities

Artists

  • Alan Patch
  • Kevin J J Warren
  • Kate Howe
  • Mandeep Dillon
  • Sally Cox
  • Michael Bishop
  • Hermione Allsopp
  • Beth Fraser
  • Roger Clarke
  • Roger Hopgood
  • Jenny Pockley
  • Linda Felcey
  • Gary Hume
  • Marcelina Amelia
  • Sadie Hennessy
  • Jim Naughten
  • Jo Delafons
  • Louisa Whitham
  • Emily Allchurch
  • Nessie Ramm
  • Orlanda Broom
  • Sarah Jane Moon
  • Ashleigh Fisk
  • Caroline Jane Harris
  • Rachel Howard

Institutions

Locations

  • Hastings
  • United Kingdom
  • Sussex
  • Camber Sands

Sources